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Texas Senate Advances Legislation to Stop Weather-Related Lawsuit Abuse

Texas Senate Advances Legislation to Stop Weather-Related Lawsuit Abuse

April 20, 2017

SB 10 passed 7-1 by Senate Business and Commerce Committee

AUSTIN—Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) today released the following statement regarding the Senate Business and Commerce Committee voting 7 to 1 to advance Senate Bill (SB) 10, the consumer protection bill that stops rampant weather-related lawsuit abuse, while preserving the strongest protections in the nation for property insurance consumers:

“SB 10 provides a common-sense solution to the worst lawsuit abuse in Texas today, shutting down the abusive lawsuit mills that are jeopardizing affordable property insurance coverage for all Texans while maintaining the strongest consumer protections in the nation for property owners,” TLR Communications Director Lucy Nashed said. “We are pleased the Senate Business and Commerce Committee has taken this important step to stop this widespread lawsuit abuse.”

SB 10 will now head to the full Senate for a vote. Its companion bill, House Bill 1774, was recently voted out of the House Insurance Committee and is pending in the House Calendars Committee.

The Texas Department of Insurance recently found the rate of weather-related lawsuits increased 1,400 percent statewide after 2011. As a result of this lawsuit abuse, at least 12 insurers have raised their rates for homeowners’ insurance and seven have reduced, limited or stopped writing policies in Texas.

For a list of organizations endorsing SB 10 and HB 1774, please visit https://www.tortreform.com/reports/hailstorm-resolutions-support.

To learn more about weather-related lawsuit abuse, please visit www.tortreform.com/hail.

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