As Texans, we are required by law to maintain minimum levels of auto insurance on the vehicles we own and operate. The cost of auto insurance in Texas continues to rise at an alarming rate. In the case of my family, it now costs $3,900 to insure a small SUV and a 2500 series pickup for one year having no at-fault claims. When financed by a mortgage, we are contractually obligated to secure and pay for homeowner's insurance against perils that would negatively impact financial interest of the lender. Even if you own your home, it's just not wise to leave your only source of shelter uninsured. In three years, I've seen the cost of homeowner's insurance more than double, despite having no claims in the last 10 years. This is all an unsustainable burden on Texans.

We are calling for legislative oversight and regulation of homeowner's and auto insurance premiums in our state. The insurance lobby in Texas has used its power, influence, and OUR MONEY to keep the cost of insurance in Texas largely unregulated while continuing to add to the list of excluded perils.  We urge lawmakers to empower the Texas Department of Insurance with the authority to regulate home & auto insurance premiums in a way that is sustainable for all Texans. We propose a return to the use of claims history, good credit, and responsible ownership as the indicators of risk when calculating auto insurance premiums. We propose the passing of legislation to make the cost of homeowners insurance affordable and limiting homeowners insurance premium increases on a Texas Homestead to no more than 10% per year, similar to the homestead taxable value cap that already exists.

Furthermore, we demand a ban on the use of telematics (data trackers) in calculating auto insurance premiums. The use of data trackers ignores the claims history, good credit, and responsible ownership of the policyholder. Insurers entice drivers to waive the personal securities granted to them under the 4th Amendment with a 10% premium reduction just for enrolling. This not only suggests the premium is already inflated, but anyone who is unwilling to give up their privacy will be charged a higher premium for exercising their right to privacy. Telematics do not account for the actions of others requiring evasive action on your part and often results in unjustified rate increases based on misinterpreted data. 

Lastly, we insist on banning misleading advertising practices. Ads from Otto, Quote Wizard, Zebra, Lending Tree, Simple Save USA, Freeway, and others are nothing more than lead generators for the insurance industry. They promise unrealistically low premiums to lure you into giving-up your contact information to get around do-not-call lists and FCC anti-spamming regulations.

Insurance is meant as a safety net for unexpected events – it should not become an unaffordable luxury or a source of constant financial stress for ordinary Texans trying to protect their homes and vehicles.

Join us as we fight against these unfair practices and strive for fairer insurance rates. Sign this petition today!