HB 2473

relating to emergency insurance premium relief programs for certain
residential property insurance policies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 10, Insurance Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 2009 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2009. EMERGENCY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUM
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 2009.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Fund" means the emergency residential property
insurance premium relief fund established under this chapter.
(2)  "Program" means the emergency residential
property insurance premium relief program established under this
(3)  "Tax year" has the meaning assigned by Section
Sec. 2009.002.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  This chapter
applies only to a residential property insurance policy that
provides coverage for a property:
(1)  that is the policyholder's residence homestead
under  Section 11.13, Tax Code; and
(2)  for which the appraised value under Chapter 23,
Tax Code, during the tax year beginning on January 1 of the year
preceding the year in which the policyholder submits an application
for a relief payment under this chapter is not more than $2 million.
SUBCHAPTER B. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF FUND
Sec. 2009.051.  ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.  (a)  The emergency
residential property insurance premium relief fund is created as a
fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund.
(1)  money appropriated, credited, or transferred to
(2)  gifts or grants contributed to the fund; and
(3)  interest earned on deposits and investments of the
(c)  The fund may be used only to implement the program,
including the costs of program administration and operation.
Sec. 2009.052.  EMERGENCY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE
PREMIUM RELIEF PROGRAM.  The department shall establish and
administer the emergency residential property insurance premium
relief program for the public purpose of protecting housing of
Sec. 2009.053.  APPLICATION; ELIGIBILITY.  (a)  An eligible
policyholder may apply to the department for a program payment in
the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.  The
application must include information necessary to demonstrate
(b)  A policyholder is eligible for a program payment if:
(1)  the policyholder has experienced an economic
(2)  the policyholder owes at least one delinquent
payment toward the premium for a policy to which this chapter
(3)  the fund has an amount of money necessary to
satisfy all delinquent payments toward the premium for the
(c)  A policyholder is ineligible for a program payment if
the policyholder has received another program payment.
Sec. 2009.054.  DETERMINATION; PAYMENT.  (a)  Not later than
the 30th day after the date the department receives an application
under Section 2009.053, the commissioner shall determine whether
the policyholder is eligible for a program payment under this
(b)  If the commissioner determines that the policyholder is
eligible for a program payment, the department shall issue the
payment to the policyholder's insurer as soon as practicable in an
amount necessary to satisfy all delinquent payments toward the
policyholder's premium for the policy for which the payment was
Sec. 2009.055.  RESTRICTION ON USE OF PAYMENT.  A recipient
of a program payment may use the money only to pay the premium for
the policy for which the payment was awarded.
Sec. 2009.056.  RULEMAKING.  The commissioner shall adopt
rules necessary to implement this chapter, including rules that
(1)  a standardized application process, including the
form to be used to apply for a program payment and the manner of
(A)  applying for a program payment; and
(B)  disbursement of a program payment; and
(A)  monitoring the disbursement of a program
payment to ensure compliance with Section 2009.055; and
(B)  the return of a program payment that was not
used for a purpose described by Section 2009.055.
SECTION 2.  Chapter 2210, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter P to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER P. EMERGENCY ASSOCIATION PREMIUM RELIEF PROGRAM
Sec. 2210.721.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
(1)  "Fund" means the emergency association premium
relief fund established under this subchapter.
(2)  "Program" means the emergency association premium
relief program established under this subchapter.
(3)  "Tax year" has the meaning assigned by Section
Sec. 2210.722.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  This
subchapter applies only to an association policy that provides
(1)  that is the policyholder's residence homestead
under  Section 11.13, Tax Code; and
(2)  for which the appraised value under Chapter 23,
Tax Code, during the tax year beginning on January 1 of the year
preceding the year in which the policyholder submits an application
for a relief payment under this chapter is not more than $2 million.
Sec. 2210.723.  EMERGENCY ASSOCIATION PREMIUM RELIEF FUND.
(a)  The emergency association premium relief fund is created as a
fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund.
(1)  money appropriated, credited, or transferred to
(2)  gifts or grants contributed to the fund; and
(3)  interest earned on deposits and investments of the
(c)  The fund may be used only to implement the program,
including the costs of program administration and operation.
Sec. 2210.724.  EMERGENCY ASSOCIATION PREMIUM RELIEF
PROGRAM.  The department shall establish and administer the
emergency association premium relief program for the public purpose
of protecting the housing of residents of this state.
Sec. 2210.725.  APPLICATION; ELIGIBILITY.  (a)  An eligible
policyholder may apply to the department to receive a relief
payment under the program in the form and manner prescribed by the
commissioner.  The application must include information necessary
(b)  A policyholder is eligible for a program payment if:
(1)  the policyholder has experienced an economic
(2)  the policyholder owes at least one delinquent
payment toward the premium for an association policy; and
(3)  the fund has an amount of money sufficient to
satisfy all delinquent payments toward the premium for the
policyholder's association policy.
(c)  A policyholder is ineligible for a program payment if
the policyholder has received another program payment.
Sec. 2210.726.  DETERMINATION; PAYMENT.  (a)  Not later than
the 30th day after the date the department receives an application
under Section 2210.725, the commissioner shall determine whether
the policyholder is eligible for a program payment.
(b)  If the commissioner determines that a policyholder is
eligible for a program payment, the department shall issue the
payment to the association in an amount necessary to satisfy the
premiums for the policyholder's association policy for which the
Sec. 2210.727.  RESTRICTION ON USE OF PAYMENT.  The
association may use the money from a program payment only to pay the
premium for the association policy for which the payment was
Sec. 2210.728.  RULEMAKING.  The commissioner shall adopt
rules necessary to implement this subchapter, including rules that
(1)  a standardized application process, including the
form to be used to apply for a program payment and the manner of
(A)  applying for a program payment; and
(B)  disbursement of a program payment; and
(A)  monitoring the disbursement of a program
payment to ensure compliance with Section 2210.727; and
(B)  the return of a program payment that was not
used for a purpose described by Section 2210.727.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.