~ In a move to prioritize consumers and make property and casualty insurance more affordable for homeowners in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to take several actions.

According to Governor Abbott, the average annual homeowners' insurance premium in Texas has increased by 79% in just six years. This rise in insurance costs has had a significant impact on Texas families, prompting the governor to take action.

"I have directed the Texas Department of Insurance to put consumers first and take action that makes property and casualty insurance more affordable," said Governor Abbott.

As part of this directive, TDI will now require insurers to consider a home's FORTIFIED roof status when calculating insurance premiums. This measure is expected to reduce the cost of insurance for homeowners.

Additionally, insurers will no longer be allowed to refuse writing or renewing residential property insurance policies based on the age of the property or its individual components, such as the roof. This change aims to provide equal opportunities for all homeowners regardless of their property's age.

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Furthermore, TDI will issue a bulletin banning "price optimization," a practice where insurers use personal data unrelated to insured risk to set prices. This move is expected to protect consumers from unfair pricing practices.

Governor Abbott has also created an Insurance Fraud Task Force that will focus on clamping down on fraudulent activities that drive up insurance costs for all consumers. The task force will work towards making insurance more affordable for Texans.

In addition, TDI will conduct a study on excessive and unnecessary claims costs in commercial auto, personal auto, and homeowner insurance markets in Texas. The findings of this study will help identify areas where further action can be taken to reduce premiums for consumers.

Governor Abbott has requested TDI Commissioner Amanda Crawford to submit recommendations for additional administrative actions and any necessary statutory changes by September 14th, 2026. He also plans to work with the Legislature in the next session to enhance consumer protections and curb premium increases.

To read the full letter from Governor Abbott to TDI Commissioner Amanda Crawford, click here.

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