A trio of bad bills have been filed, jeopardizing the injured, their rights within our civil justice system, and public safety. Texans expect our courts to protect them and hold parties accountable when there are injustices done to them. But, HB 2300, HB 2301, and HB 2269 put arbitrary limits on justice.
Ware Wendell, Executive Director of Texas Watch, a non-partisan citizen advocacy organization that works to protect policyholders, released the following statement regarding HB 1774, one of the Blue Tarp Bills, which passed the House Committee on Insurance today on a 6-3 vote:
Texas Watch testified against HB 1774, one of the Blue Tarp Bills, at the House Insurance Committee hearing this week. Watch and read Executive Director Ware Wendell's testimony below. Then, please take one minute to sign the petition to preserve policyholder protections here.
After being rejected last session, insurance lobbyists are again pushing legislation (HB 1774 & SB 10, more aptly called the "Blue Tarp Bills") that would lessen penalties for property insurers that hurt their customers.
Texas Watch Executive Director Ware Wendell released the following statement concerning HB 1774, which was heard today in the House Committee on Insurance:
Happy 266th Birthday to James Madison! Father of the Constitution, 4th U.S. President, and original author of the 7th amendment, giving us the Right to Trial by Jury. Find out more about his life and accomplishments at https://tinyurl.com/j4dt88u
Data from the Texas Department of Insurance's "Weather Related Property Claims" report shows that Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) and other insurance lobbyists have fabricated another "crisis" in an effort to rob Texas homeowners, businesses, churches, and schools of their legal protections.
After disaster strikes, Texans start the process of rebuilding and getting back on their feet. But too often, insurers delay and underpay policyholders' valid claims. A policyholder can’t rebuild until they have full payment in hand. When insurers underpay Texans and add unnecessary delays, Texas communities are left in the lurch. This month, SB 10 and HB 1774, more aptly referred to as the Blue Tarp Bills, were filed.
In the years that insurers have claimed a crisis, carriers have raked in billions. Outperforming the nation in profitability for three years running, Texas homeowners insurance carriers have been making profits hand over fist.
Insurance lobbyists are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Texans, using cherry-picked data on consumer complaints at the Texas Department of Insurance to help their bottom line. But, KXAN's Investigative Team revealed the problems plaguing the Texas Department of Insurance's complaints process and the very numbers insurance lobbyists are relying on.
Texas policyholders struggling to have their valid claims paid in full and on time are forced to resort to the courts. But, often insurers are escaping accountability and gaming the system by using the last trick up their sleeve: the appraisal process.
