Texas governor asks TDI to make property insurance more affordable - repairerdrivennews.com

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Insurance to find ways to bring down property insurance costs, citing a 79 percent jump in average annual homeowners premiums over the past six years.

The directive covers homeowners, commercial, and personal auto insurance markets. Abbott asked TDI to study what he called "excessive, unnecessary, and inflated claims costs" and their effect on what Texans pay. He also directed the agency to create an Insurance Fraud Task Force, though details on its scope were not released.

For Lubbock homeowners, this lands at a rough time. West Texas has seen its share of hail seasons and wind events that push premiums up, and families here are paying significantly more than they were six years ago, whether they filed a claim or not. The directive puts the pressure on TDI to act rather than simply study the problem.

What that action actually looks like is still unclear. Abbott's order frames the issue but does not set new rate caps or guarantee relief on any specific timeline. TDI will need to respond with concrete steps before anyone sees a lower bill.

Texas already ranks among the most expensive states in the country for homeowners insurance, a distinction that does not get easier to swallow the longer it sticks around.