The 87th Texas Legislature will go into a third special session on Sept. 20 to address redistricting led by Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), among other items.
A bill to make windstorm insurance affordable and available to Coastal Bend residents was filed in the Texas legislature recently by Representative Todd Hunter and State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. Senate Bill 302 addresses reform of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency and is co-signed by Representatives Abel Herrero, J.M. Lozano, Joe Deshotel, and Eddie Lucio III.
If voted into law, the bill would restructure the TWIA board, which is currently dominated by insurance industry executives appointed by the TDI Commissioner. The new board would have greater coastal representation and be appointed by the Governor. It would also restructure the financing of TWIA so it is prepared to pay claims for a 100-year storm — the industry standard. The current funding structure only pays claims for a 70-year storm.
While this issue might not be one of the biggest to come before the Texas Legislature during this biennial session, Hunter told Corpus Christi Business News that he expects it to pass.
"I think there is enough interest across the board to resolve windstorm," he said. "We have a good shot at accomplishing something this time around."
The legislation was crafted with help of Charles Zahn, chairman of the Texas Coastal Windstorm Task Force and Foster Edwards, president of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, among others.
“We are pleased to work with Representative Hunter and Senator Hinojosa and the entire coastal delegation to find windstorm insurance relief for homeowners and business owners of the Coastal Bend,” wrote Edwards in a letter to chamber members announcing the new legislation. “The Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce along with our partner chambers: the Padre Island Business Association, Portland Chamber of Commerce, Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce, Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce and the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce are pleased to support this legislation and will continue to work toward its passage.”
As of late February, the bill was pending in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee.
