Governor Directs TDI to Take Action to Make Property Insurance More Affordable - Texas Border Business

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Insurance to take action on property and casualty insurance costs, citing a 79 percent rise in average annual homeowners' insurance premiums over the past six years.

Abbott's directive asks TDI to require insurers to factor in a home's FORTIFIED roof status when setting rates, a designation that signals a roof built to stronger storm-resistance standards. The full list of directed actions was not included in the available source material, but the governor framed the push as putting consumers ahead of insurers. For a state that sees its share of hail, wind, and severe weather, the FORTIFIED roof provision could carry real weight.

For people here in Lubbock, this hits close to home. West Texas weather is hard on roofs, and anyone who has filed a claim after a hailstorm knows how fast premiums climb afterward. If insurers are required to reward stronger roofs with lower rates, homeowners who invest in upgrades could see some financial relief, though the source material does not specify by how much or on what timeline.

Texas already has some of the highest homeowners' insurance costs in the country, so a 79 percent jump over six years is not a small thing.