TITLE: Relating to availability of claims contact information for personal and commercial property and casualty insurers.

SUMMARY: Relating to availability of claims contact information for personal and commercial property and casualty insurers.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to availability of claims contact information for personal and commercial property and casualty insurers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 32.101, Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 32.101. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, this [This] subchapter applies to insurers who comprise the top 25 insurance groups in the national market and who issue residential property insurance or personal automobile insurance policies in this state, including a Lloyd's plan, a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, a county mutual insurance company, a farm mutual insurance company, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the FAIR Plan Association, and the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Section 32.1025 to read as follows: Sec. 32.1025. CLAIMS CONTACT INFORMATION. (a) Notwithstanding Section 32.101, this section applies to each insurer writing personal or commercial property or casualty insurance in this state, including a Lloyd's plan, a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, a county mutual insurance company, a farm mutual insurance company, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the FAIR Plan Association, and the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association. (b) The department shall establish and maintain an Internet website that lists each insurer writing personal or commercial property or casualty insurance in this state and provides for each insurer: (1) a telephone number used to file a claim with the insurer; or (2) a link to the Internet website used to file a claim with the insurer. SECTION 3. Section 32.103, Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 32.103. PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING INTERNET WEBSITE. The department shall publicize the existence of an [the] Internet website required by this subchapter. SECTION 4. Section 32.104, Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 32.104. DUTIES OF INSURER. (a) On the request of the department, an insurer,including an insurer to which Section 32.1025 applies, shall provide to the department any information the department and the office of public insurance counsel determine is reasonable or necessary to fulfill the department's and the office of the public insurance counsel's duties under this subchapter. (b) An insurer shall provide in a conspicuous manner with each residential property insurance or personal automobile insurance policy issued in this state notice of the Internet website required by Section 32.102 [this subchapter].The commissioner shall determine the form and content of the notice. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.