Gov. Greg Abbott called the Texas Legislature back to Austin for a second special session this summer after House Democrats left the state in opposition to proposed election reform in July.
Top Texas government officials are making good on windstorm insurance bills passed in 2019 by the state Legislature with a spate of committee appointments. Most recently, state senators were named to the newly formed Windstorm Insurance Legislative Funding and Funding Structure Oversight Board.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the appointments, naming Texas senators Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McCallen), Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood), and Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown). Hancock will serve as co-chair.
“Responsible stewardship of Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is vital to our vibrant coastal communities,” Patrick said. “I am confident these senators will focus their serious attention on this oversight task.”
House members serving on the committee were appointed by House Speaker Dennis Bonnen in January. They are representatives Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood), Alex Dominguez (D-Brownsville), Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), and Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownsville).
That overtask includes studying:
• how the association's current funding and funding structure operate;
• how the catastrophic risk pools of other states operate;
• recommendations and proposals for establishing and implementing sustainable funding and a sustainable funding structure for the association;
• the current funding, funding structure, and sustainability of the association, including the association's reliance on debt and reinsurance;
• recommendations for legislative action necessary to address problems with the current funding and funding structure of the association;
• and how to foster the stability and sustainability of the association.
In January, Bonnen appointed representatives to serve on the Windstorm Insurance Legislative Oversight Board, also in response to legislation coming out of the 2019 session. Although this committee already existed in statute, it has been dormant for the past few years. House Bill 1900, which created the the committee mentioned above, directed this board to study a merger of TWIA and the Texas Fair Plan Association.
Appointed to the board by Bonnen are Abel Herrero (D-Robstown), J.M. Lozano (R-Kingsville), Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria), and Ed Thompson (R-Pearland).
Senate appointees to this board have not yet been named. Committee meetings could begin this summer in preparation for the next legislative session, which begins in January 2021.
