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TDI Holds Informal Roundtable With Adjusters
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The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) held an informal virtual roundtable with adjusters Oct. 15. Approximately 100 people participated, many of whom were public adjusters. Chief Deputy Commissioner Dan Paschal led the discussion, and state Rep. Matt Morgan, who is also a public adjuster, attended. ICT also participated in the meeting.
Much of the discussion focused on public adjusters' concerns about insurer claims practices and enforcement of existing laws. Issues included access to policy documents, the use of third parties in claims inspections, including public adjusters on claims checks, overhead and profit payments, and a suggestion to extend additional living expense (ALE) benefits when claims delays are outside the policyholder's control.
TDI did not commit to any regulatory changes or legislative proposals, but some of the issues raised could resurface during the 2027 legislative session. ICT will continue to monitor these issues and work with its committees as discussions develop.
TDI indicated that a recording of the roundtable will be made available on its website
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TDI adds auto data to transparency tool showing why policies are declined, canceled, or not renewed
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The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has expanded its insurance transparency tool to include personal auto insurance data, giving Texans more insight into why policies in their ZIP code are declined, canceled or not renewed.
The updated webpage also shows the number of insured vehicles in each area and the reported counts of nonrenewals, cancellations and declinations. Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford said the expansion is intended to give consumers clearer information about insurance decisions and help them better understand their coverage options.
The transparency tool stems from HB 2067, passed in 2025, which requires insurers to report this information to TDI and provide written explanations when they decline, cancel or do not renew a home or auto insurance policy. The auto data builds on the home insurance information TDI added to the tool in September.
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DWC Holds Quarterly Insurance Carrier Meeting; Commissioner Discusses Potential Legislative Changes
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The Texas Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) held its quarterly insurance carrier meeting Oct. 14, providing updates on agency operations, compliance and enforcement, and potential legislative priorities ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature.
Commissioner Jeff Nelson discussed several potential legislative proposals DWC is considering ahead of the 2027 legislative session. DWC is expected to publish its final recommendations in its biennial report to the Legislature later this year.
Items discussed included:
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Electronic benefit payments: Allowing workers' compensation benefits to be paid through additional electronic payment methods, such as PayPal or Venmo, to modernize benefit delivery.
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Nonsubscriber reporting: Eliminating reporting requirements for employers that do not subscribe to workers' compensation coverage, including mandatory injury reporting.
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Dispute resolution system modernization: DWC is working to replace its legacy dispute resolution system and exploring funding options for the project, including potentially seeking legislative authorization to use money from the Subsequent Injury Fund.
DWC also provided updates on designated doctor operations, return-to-work guidelines, medical fee dispute resolution, performance-based oversight and compliance activities. The meeting presentation is available here.
Members can access a more detailed recap of the meeting, prepared by ICT's workers' compensation counsel, Burns Anderson Jury & Brenner LLP, on the ICT Info Hub.
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Texas FAIR Plan Reviews Proposed 2027 Budget
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The Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) Governing Committee met Oct. 13 for a budget workshop to review its proposed 2027 budget. The meeting was informational only, and no action was taken.
Key highlights from the proposed budget include:
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Policies in force: Projected to decline 22.4%, from 107,845 at year-end 2026 to 83,685 at year-end 2027.
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Premiums and exposure: Written premiums are projected to decline 23.7% to $189.2 million, while exposure is expected to decrease 21.7% to $26.5 billion.
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Reinsurance: The budget includes $61.7 million for the 2027-28 reinsurance program, down from $73.4 million in 2026, reflecting lower projected exposure.
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Surplus: Projected to increase from approximately $150 million at year-end 2026 to $226.6 million at year-end 2027.
TFPA staff noted that both new business and renewals continue to decline, particularly new business. The continued decline in FAIR Plan policies is a positive sign of improving market conditions and increased availability of coverage in the private market.
The Governing Committee is expected to consider approving the budget at its next quarterly meeting Nov. 9 in Corpus Christi.
The Oct. 13 meeting materials are available here.
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ICT Education Foundation: Virtual UTRGV Visit Inspires Future Insurance Professionals
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Albert Betts, executive director of ICT, Rich Johnson, director of communication with ICT and ICT Education Foundation Board of Trustees; John Henle, Berkley Southwest; and Brian Drew, Chubb, recently joined students at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for a virtual visit exploring the property and casualty insurance industry. The discussion covered the state of the Texas insurance market, the speakers’ individual career paths and the range of career opportunities available throughout the industry. UTRGV is one of the ICT Education Foundation’s nine partner universities. Visits like this help students connect classroom learning with professional experiences, meet industry leaders and envision their own futures in insurance. These conversations can inspire the next generation of talent to pursue rewarding careers serving Texas families, businesses and communities across the state.
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ICT Staff to Present with workcompcentral
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The Insurance Council of Texas is partnering with WorkCompCentral for a free live webinar on Oct. 27 examining the legislative and policy issues shaping the Texas workers’ compensation system ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature.
ICT Executive Director Albert Betts, Jr. and Legal and Legislative Advocacy Counsel Jon Schnautz will join Amy Lee, president of Steadfast Policy Strategies, for the two-hour session. The panel will discuss how workers’ compensation is positioned within the Texas House and Senate committee structure, current legislative priorities and the political and policy forces that could influence the upcoming legislative session.
The webinar will also explore how emerging priorities could affect employers, insurers, injured workers, medical providers and the broader workers’ compensation system, giving attendees practical insight as they prepare for the session ahead.
Texas claims and MCLE credit hours are pending approval.
Register for the free webinar
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ICT Webinar - STAT & GAAP Accounting and Reporting Update
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ICT will host “STAT & GAAP Accounting and Reporting Update” on Oct. 26, featuring Catherine Stout, an Assurance Shareholder with extensive experience in insurance audits, internal controls and regulatory compliance.
The webinar will cover key statutory and GAAP accounting and reporting updates, including changes effective in 2026 and beyond, annual statement revisions and investment reporting considerations. Stout will also discuss common issues identified during annual financial statement audits, including risk transfer, reserves, reinsurance, captive arrangements and related-party contracts.
Stout conducts financial statement audits on STAT and GAAP bases, oversees attestation projects for reinsurance transactions and prepares reports for the NAIC and state regulators. Insurance accounting, financial reporting, compliance and audit professionals are encouraged to attend. The session will include audience questions and discussion.
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ICT Q4 All Member Meeting
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Join us on Nov.11 at 11am for the quarterly updates from ICT. Your inside look at the key legislative, legal, media, and member issues shaping the Texas insurance industry.
Hear the latest on ICT’s legislative priorities and interim charges, including lawsuit abuse, tort reform, resiliency, and our work with industry partners. We’ll also cover media trends, current issues reporters are following, and how ICT is helping elevate the industry’s voice.
Plus, get member services updates, learn about new ICT members, and hear what’s ahead for upcoming events.
Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed, connect with ICT, and engage on the issues that matter most to our industry.
Register Today!
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Texas says insurance rates are trending down. State records show a more complicated picture.
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The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) reports that home and auto insurance rates are trending downward for many Texans, but an ABC13 investigation found that recent rate filings present a more complicated picture. While TDI reported an average 4.3% decrease in homeowners rate filings over the past 90 days, the figure was not weighted by company size or number of policyholders, and several major insurers have filed increases. The findings highlight a moderating insurance market following years of significant premium increases, though many Texas homeowners and drivers continue facing higher costs.
Key points
- TDI reports encouraging rate trends: Since July 1, insurers filed 26 homeowners rate decreases and five increases, with proposed decreases affecting approximately 700,000 policyholders. Auto insurers also filed decreases affecting 4.4 million policyholders.
- State Farm's filing shows a different picture for many homeowners: Texas' largest homeowners insurer filed a 4% statewide rate increase, estimating that approximately 751,000 policies would see increases while 234,000 would see decreases. More than 135,000 policies could experience increases of 10% or more.
- Average rate figures do not capture the entire market: TDI's reported 4.3% average homeowners rate decrease gives equal weight to filings from small and large insurers. Meanwhile, auto insurers filed an average 0.6% rate increase over the same 90-day period.
- Severe weather and claims costs remain major factors: State Farm cited liability losses, severe storms and rising insured home values as factors contributing to rate pressure, despite improved underwriting results and lower reinsurance costs.
- Rate increases have slowed, but affordability remains a concern: Texas' weighted average homeowners rate increase moderated from 21.1% in 2023 and 18.7% in 2024 to 4.3% in 2025. However, average homeowners premiums increased approximately 63% between 2020 and 2025, rising from about $1,500 to $2,460 annually.
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Insured losses from Hurricane Isaias could reach $2 billion, Verisk says
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Hurricane Isaias could generate between $1 billion and $2 billion in insured property losses, according to an estimate from catastrophe risk modeling firm Verisk. The hurricane made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Oct. 9 as a Category 2 storm, bringing damaging winds, widespread power outages and significant property damage across portions of the Florida Panhandle. Wind damage is expected to account for the majority of insured losses, with impacts concentrated in residential and commercial properties across the hardest-hit areas.
Key points
- Insured losses could reach $2 billion: Verisk estimates Hurricane Isaias caused between $1 billion and $2 billion in insured onshore property losses, including damage from wind and privately insured storm surge.
- Isaias struck Florida as a Category 2 hurricane: The storm made landfall near Destin on Oct. 9 with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph after briefly strengthening to Category 3 over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Wind damage is the primary driver of losses: Florida's Santa Rosa and northeastern Escambia counties experienced some of the most severe wind damage, including damaged roofs, fallen trees, structural damage and debris impacts.
- The storm caused widespread disruptions: Hundreds of thousands of residents experienced power outages, and at least four deaths were reported as the storm affected Florida and neighboring states.
- The estimate does not capture all storm-related losses: Verisk's modeled losses include insured residential, commercial, industrial and automobile damage but exclude National Flood Insurance Program claims, rainfall-induced flooding, uninsured property damage and other nonmodeled losses.
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Texas rolls out auto insurance transparency web portal
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The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has expanded its online insurance transparency tool to help Texans understand why personal auto insurance policies are declined, canceled or not renewed. The portal provides information about insurance coverage decisions by ZIP code, including the number of insured vehicles and reported nonrenewals, cancellations and declinations. The expansion follows House Bill 2067, passed in 2025, which requires insurers to report coverage decisions to TDI and provide written explanations to affected consumers.
Key points
- TDI expands its insurance transparency portal: The online resource now includes personal auto insurance information, building on the homeowners insurance data released in September 2026.
- Consumers can access local insurance data: Texans can view reasons auto policies were declined, canceled or not renewed in their area, along with counts of insured vehicles and reported coverage decisions.
- HB 2067 established new reporting requirements: The 2025 law requires insurance companies to report information about declinations, cancellations and nonrenewals to TDI and provide written explanations to affected policyholders.
- TDI emphasizes consumer awareness: Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford said the expanded portal is intended to give Texans greater insight into insurance decisions and help them navigate coverage options with more confidence.
- The portal supports greater market transparency: Making insurance data publicly available gives consumers and policymakers more information about coverage availability and underwriting decisions across Texas communities.
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