The Wind Blows Across Texas - Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

This morning, Beaumont played host to the Texas Department of Insurance. A special thank you to Representative Joe Deshotel, Representative Todd Hunter, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and Commissioner Rathgeber, for their effort in organizing the public hearing.

The Texas Department of Insurance has proposed rules to implement provisions of House Bill 3 related to loss funding and premium surcharges for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. The Beaumont meeting was the first of three to be held throughout the state. Additional hearings will be held in Austin and Corpus Christi.

Residents turned out in overwhelming numbers to speak out against the proposed "surcharges" associated with windstorm insurance. Elected officials and business owners expressed concern regarding the plan to recapitalize the fund by penalizing the 14 coastal counties and the impact it would have on current and future economic sustainability.

You can follow the course of HB 3 through the TDI website, along with the proposed rules. The simulcast recording of the public hearing will be available. I encourage you to learn more about how Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is capitalized, its current financial inadequacy, and the proposed rules impacting the 14 coastal counties.

We 14 are not the only residents of our great state, and we would hope to stand together as Texas to solve a problem involving not only our friends along the Gulf, but those in Central, North and the Panhandle of Texas. As was stated at the hearing, our region voted for a water bill that benefitted the whole state, even when we have no shortage of such. Why shouldn't the rest of the state be willing to do the same........?