HB 1951 – Taylor – Relating to the continuation and operation of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the operation of certain insurance programs; imposing administrative penalties was passed to third reading last night.
The bill includes several measures to make the agency more accountable, from requiring the department to make its procedures for rate reviews accessible to the public, to forcing auto and residential property insurers file aggregate claims information with the agency.
During the debate last night lawmakers considered 59 amendments of which 27 were adopted. Of the adopted amendments measures included requiring the agency to be subject to open records and open meeting laws and another adopted amendment gives the Insurance Commissioner authorization to establish a health insurance exchange if that portion of federal health care law remains in force.
HB 1951 was passed to third reading as amended with 96 ayes and 46 nays.