[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6103481,"mediaKeyId","2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d","parentId",2795169,"title","TDI commissioner outlines data, consumer protections as committee weighs agency restructure and flex rate filing","audioSeconds",4281,"startMs",808000,"endMs",5089000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d&start=808&end=5089","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d/thumbnail_808000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6103481/Texas/TDI-commissioner-outlines-data-consumer-protections-as-committee-weighs-agency-restructure-and-flex-rate-filing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103481-dea166476d3d3e1f6efdcea09f0c3a2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749561&Signature=lgzovPDXWiriq-pRPTDEv8ZHzI9~WnlG3V4o5SogMMnvtMhLx-HjCZ4ifHWl~CWnxMBtlfhcVIZGDWwexn8u16PduQJx0Z4FaIhPr2f7QgSScR0-TV4NvN-77gChUn8sXw-D8YxHLdLS~2QnKspfvqksa6dcRp1GO-hPfgkFyo8qsJH9HwQWJc9Bg-Oc26G5z3joAK8Cz0uM2zrFDfcMsXBay~yVRZdZeI~dE-DTcLbF9brKbOfgXJ5Z8NDL0e0BKcATDhT2xhxijoC2S2-pN3Rq7rgSOTX0ZipzYRNMjiBiWRAf0~VlYR1CXLmrhMHylFhwA3IlFApOgN~~EWSpyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","Commissioner Cassie Brown, Texas commissioner of insurance, told the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce that the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) relies on extensive data collection and review to protect consumers and monitor insurer solvency.

Brown said TDI receives monthly policy‑ and claim‑level data from companies writing residential property insurance, analyzes filings and complaints year‑round, and conducts on‑site financial and market conduct examinations. \"Every submitted rate filing gets a careful review,\" she said, and she told the committee that TDI's rate reviews led to consumer savings the prior fiscal year of about $87,000,000 by identifying and correcting problems in filings before some rates took effect.

The committee’s discussion then focused on two bills. Senator Swertner explained Senate Bill 16 42, which would replace the current single‑commissioner structure at TDI with a three‑commissioner model intended to add management and oversight capacity and to place a consumer advocate or consumer expert on the decision‑making body. Senator Swertner said the change is aimed at improving responsiveness to consumers and strengthening regulatory oversight as the insurance marketplace grows. Supporters and opponents debated both the structure and the appropriate number of commissioners: proponents and some committee members argued a commission could add specialized expertise and a permanent consumer voice, while trade groups and several witnesses said a single commissioner provides clearer accountability and greater efficiency.

Senate Bill 16 43, described as a \"flex\" filing proposal, would require insurers to seek TDI approval if proposed rates change more than a specified percentage (the bill as explained to the committee used a 10% threshold). Supporters told the committee they seek guardrails so extreme rate changes are reviewed before taking effect; opponents said Texas’ existing \"file and use\" system promotes competition and market entry and warned that prior approval or tighter controls could slow the market or suppress competition. Witnesses also suggested smaller thresholds are used in some states and recommended additional guardrails to prevent gaming (for example, repeated filings that cumulatively increase rates beyond the threshold). Commissioner Brown described the trade‑offs between file‑and‑use and prior approval systems: under file‑and‑use TDI must prove a filing violates law if it seeks restitution, while prior approval places the burden on companies to prove compliance before use.

The committee heard testimony from consumer advocates and industry representatives. Beamon Floyd of the Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions and Anne Bedour of Texas Appleseed argued for more oversight or a consumer voice on the commission and for careful review of rate changes. Scott Kibbe of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Albert Betts of Insurance Counsel of Texas, and Ward Tisdale of industry groups opposed moving away from the single‑commissioner model and cautioned that greater pre‑approval could reduce market entry and flexibility.

No final votes on the two bills were recorded in the hearing; both were left pending for further consideration. The committee also discussed data requests and comparisons for premium trends across lines and asked TDI to provide more granular data (for example, separating personal from commercial lines and trend lines for premiums by product).

TDI told the committee it will review its data collection practices for homeowners coverage in 2025 and is working to make more market data publicly accessible in user‑friendly formats. Brown also noted TDI’s consumer helpline activity for fiscal year 2024 (nearly 141,000 calls) and enforcement figures (millions collected in administrative penalties and restitution) as examples of the agency’s consumer work.

The committee recessed after leaving both bills pending and moving to later agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part I) March 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Cassie Brown, Texas commissioner of insurance, told the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce that TDI uses extensive data and rate reviews to protect consumers and ensure insurer solvency.","taxTitle","Committee on Business & Commerce, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16850,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103476,"Committee votes: roll calls on committee substitutes and favorable reports (May 20, 2025)",4413,192000,4605000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d&start=192&end=4605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d/thumbnail_192000.jpg","/articles/6103476/Texas/Committee-votes-roll-calls-on-committee-substitutes-and-favorable-reports-May-20-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103476-08416fe1664c79410aeefd5191033169/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749561&Signature=ET9bDlp70fIwo-rpNfEAq7R7gJVxweq6GY9j00IHEfzwtJL-Sp8jUvB6YxRupGx7zqRpFNWrQ98vF6rgXh1Soe5vkRA-eq~p9trOXCF41n0gaROLtYpu4~8nT-hoXhKrgO3CqU2QLU9onNhTU4oT-urKN7Wv4CHcZ-Q50uhdyr47x7x~o8TUsJyM7UQNRGotwX7zGjG0SGelpsJEbi15J1eqUWo9hMwBpRNi-MrI6cUlhAS6g57htqZUFq2zO5NUEGqDPn4v9iI88Sij-NaL20~2bZtfHAjBimef1X7qpL8d9aIqnQ32ge1KAfFuQj5bZkP1kd7gSemQS1ECloxycw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Business & Commerce conducted roll‑call votes on a series of committee substitutes and recommendations to report bills favorably to the full Senate during its May 20, 2025 hearing. The clerk called the roll repeatedly for different bills; the transcript records multiple motions adopting committee substitutes and recommending bills be reported favorably, with many recorded tallies reading, \"There being 10 ayes and 0 nays.\" Committee action included adoption of committee substitutes and recommendations that the bills be sent to the local uncontested calendar or reported favorably to the full Senate.

Items called and recorded in the hearing included committee substitutes or recommendations for the following bills (transcript identifiers shown as read in committee): SB 455, SB 522, SB 1036, SB 1057, SB 1058, SB 1239, SB 1254, SB 1255, SB 1259, SB 1341, SJR 50, SB 1664, SB 1877, and others. For multiple recorded motions the clerk and chair announced \"There being 10 ayes and 0 nays,\" and the committee ordered the bills reported favorably and, in many cases, sent to the local uncontested calendar.

Because the transcript records repeated roll calls with similar outcomes rather than debate on each measure, this summary lists the procedural outcome captured on the record rather than bill text or substantive changes in each committee substitute. The committee later announced that voting for the day had concluded and moved to the next portion of the agenda.

Votes (selected items recorded in the transcript):

- SB 455: committee substitute adopted; motion to \"do not pass, but committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof, do pass and be printed\"; clerk recorded 10 ayes, 0 nays; reported favorably, sent to local uncontested calendar.

- SB 522: committee substitute adopted; clerk recorded 10 ayes, 0 nays; reported favorably, sent to local uncontested calendar.

- SB 1036: committee substitute adopted; clerk recorded 10 ayes, 0 nays; reported favorably, sent to local contested/calendar as recorded.

- SB 1057 and SB 1058: committee substitutes adopted; clerk recorded 10 ayes, 0 nays; reported favorably and sent to local/contested calendars as announced.

- SB 1239, SB 1254, SB 1255, SB 1259, SB 1341, SJR 50, SB 1664, SB 1877 and others: committee substitutes or motions recommended the bills be reported favorably; most recorded tallies were 10 ayes and 0 nays and were sent to the local uncontested or contested calendar per the chair’s announcements.

This article lists procedural outcomes recorded on the transcript. For full bill texts, committee substitutes, and any amendments, consult the official bill files and committee minutes.","The Senate Committee on Business & Commerce recorded roll‑call votes on multiple committee substitutes and recommendations, with many motions passing by recorded tallies of 10 ayes and 0 nays and items reported to the local uncontested calendar.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103471,"Senate committee considers bill to block insurance \"widow penalty\"; advocates cite price increases after spousal death",875,5100000,5975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d&start=5100&end=5975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2795169-697f5fb7ff91432c217d4a6c3658728d/thumbnail_5100000.jpg","/articles/6103471/Texas/Senate-committee-considers-bill-to-block-insurance-widow-penalty-advocates-cite-price-increases-after-spousal-death","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103471-a723afe45ee9327bec2091d7d66a849b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749561&Signature=C60wG6vuqef6aanjTrg5Hq7JhZF7OTebGYZW5dlEelMzlU0AS~vQCuM~c4dLirFRCiRZrxvCdlvkXasHrhEIJtE560j~fccTej-qm7jh93aq35MNq0ya7Rj7tT~bl-3IaMIBgGmzi5GpTECPoSpVBdBc5upKt7-8nxvJbcUtfiwj8XmmE6xFfAwUAof5CZTUs1m-It8nDubdHAuv-~iQ9iGWp33rLsqIc1qbMrLnHOAfipD2r6tamu-8tTs4S8AUqWV5UUQ3CWSZMNVu2Sf075grovM9-~VI7fpJTc0rL1JVqvZrfUKagUJIbDcgnRkgLeTiAD~WA58HwGklFhydzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Kolkhorst filed Senate Bill 12 38 to prohibit insurers from increasing premiums or reducing coverage for policyholders whose marital status changes to widowed following a spouse’s death. \"Senate Bill 12 38 will protect recently widowed individuals from being taken advantage of in their weakest moments,\" Kolkhorst said on the record, citing examples and a July 2024 study they provided to the committee.

Multiple witnesses testified in support of the bill and described personal experiences. Evelyn Delgado told the committee she lost her husband and, after notifying her auto insurer, was told her premium would increase by $280 per year even though nothing about her driving or property had changed. Anne Bedour of Texas Appleseed provided research showing widely varying insurer responses — some carriers applied no surcharge, others raised premiums substantially — and described the practice as arbitrary and discriminatory. Charles Cascio of AARP Texas said the law’s current distinction between \"single\" and \"married\" can reclassify a newly widowed person and trigger higher rates; Cascio cited AARP member examples, including a Marshall, Texas member whose homeowners premium rose 65% after her husband’s death.

John Schnauz, representing insurance counsel, said some insurers use marital status among rating factors but offered to work on language that would eliminate consideration of marital status when a policyholder becomes widowed; he presented draft language the industry could accept to isolate marital status as the variable at issue.

Senate Bill 12 38 would amend the Insurance Code to prohibit an insurer from discontinuing coverage, altering the extent of coverage, or charging a different rate for an individual solely because the individual became widowed. Supporters told the committee the change mirrors statutes enacted in other states that have closed similar loopholes.

Committee members asked clarifying questions; several members noted the bill was based on constituent reports and that the issue affects many Texans on fixed incomes. Industry witnesses indicated a willingness to work with sponsors on targeted language. The committee took public testimony and left the bill pending for further work.","Senate Bill 12 38 would prohibit insurers from charging higher rates or reducing coverage for policyholders reclassified as single after a spouse dies; author and witnesses described examples of widow penalties and asked the committee to close a statutory loophole.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

TDI commissioner outlines data, consumer protections as committee weighs agency restructure and flex rate filing

Committee votes: roll calls on committee substitutes and favorable reports (May 20, 2025)

Senate committee considers bill to block insurance "widow penalty"; advocates cite price increases after spousal death