Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Insurance on Monday to pursue a series of measures to lower property and casualty insurance costs for Texas homeowners.
Abbott said the average annual homeowner’s insurance premium in Texas has climbed 79% over the past six years, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“High insurance costs hit Texas families hard,” Abbott said. “Today I direct the Texas Department of Insurance to put consumers first and take action that makes property and casualty insurance more affordable.”
The directive instructs TDI to require insurers to factor a home’s FORTIFIED roof status into their rate calculations, a change intended to reduce premiums for qualifying properties.
A FORTIFIED roof is an optional roofing system that surpasses building code requirements to protect the structure against weather-related events, such as high winds, hurricanes, hail, and severe thunderstorms. It typically has stronger edges, a sealed roof deck, better roof deck attachment systems, and impact-resistant shingles, according to Sage Sure.
Abbott also ordered the agency to prohibit insurers from refusing to write or renew residential property policies based on the age of the home or individual components such as the roof.
TDI was further directed to issue a bulletin banning “price optimization” across all products it regulates. The practice involves using personal data unrelated to insured risk to set prices.
The governor called for the creation of an Insurance Fraud Task Force to address fraud, which he said drives up costs for all consumers. He also instructed TDI to study how excessive, unnecessary, and inflated claims costs affect the state’s commercial auto, personal auto, and homeowner insurance markets.
In addition, TDI is to identify further administrative steps that can be taken immediately, along with any statutory changes required to protect consumers and reduce insurance costs. Those recommendations are due to the governor’s office by September 14, 2026.
Abbott said he will work with the Legislature during the next session to expand consumer protections for policyholders and address premium increases. The governor’s letter was addressed to TDI Commissioner Amanda Crawford.
Provided by Dallas Express
