2026 is a between-regular-sessions year for the Texas Legislature, so there's no regular session underway and no ordinary bill filing. But that doesn't mean the regulatory landscape is standing still. Several laws passed in 2025 are now taking effect, TDI has active rulemaking underway, and a new commissioner is setting the tone for how enforcement and oversight will look going forward.
Here's what's actually changed, what's in progress, and what you should be watching.
New Laws Now in Effect
HB 2067 — Carriers Must Explain Denials in Writing
This is the biggest operational change hitting agents in 2026.
Under HB 2067, insurers must provide a written explanation when they decline, cancel, or non-renew an insurance policy subject to TDI regulation — including personal auto and homeowners coverage. TDI is rolling out implementation in phases, starting with residential property and personal auto. On top of that, carriers are required to file quarterly reports with TDI summarizing their declination reasons across the board. Workers' comp is treated separately in the statute: some declination provisions don't apply to workers' comp applications, but TDI plans specific guidance for how workers' comp carriers will comply with the new reporting requirements.
What this means for your practice: Before HB 2067, a client could get dropped and have no written documentation of the reason. That made it harder for you to shop alternatives or help the client address the underlying issue. Now you have something concrete to work with. When a client comes to you after a non-renewal, ask for the written explanation. Use it to identify whether the issue is correctable (claims frequency, property condition, credit-related) or structural (carrier pulling out of a geography or line).
The quarterly reporting requirement also means TDI will have aggregated data on why carriers are declining coverage statewide. Over time, expect TDI to use that data to identify patterns — and potentially act on them.
Leadership Change: New Commissioner Amanda Crawford
In February 2026, Amanda Crawford replaced Cassie Brown as Texas Insurance Commissioner. Crawford was previously the director of the Texas Department of Information Resources, bringing a technology and operations background to TDI rather than the traditional insurance regulatory track.
Why this matters: Commissioner transitions often signal shifts in enforcement emphasis. It's too early to identify Crawford's specific priorities, but her technology background suggests potential interest in insurtech regulation, data reporting modernization, and digital compliance processes. TDI has launched “Speak Up, Texas!,” an initiative inviting Texans to share feedback with the department, and Crawford has begun holding in-person events around the state to hear from consumers and industry participants.
The practical advice: watch TDI's news feed and bulletin board over the next 6 months. New commissioners typically signal their enforcement priorities through early bulletins and public statements before formal rulemaking begins.
Active TDI Rulemaking
Even in an off-session year, TDI has independent rulemaking authority. Several rule proposals are in various stages of development:
Proposed Ban on Tying Arrangements
TDI has proposed prohibiting carriers from requiring policyholders to bundle home and auto coverage as a condition of writing either policy. This isn't finalized yet, but if adopted, it would directly affect how some carriers structure their book requirements and multi-policy discount programs.
Action item: Review your carrier appointments now. If any of your carriers currently require bundling as a condition of coverage (not just as a discount incentive, but as a hard requirement), flag those relationships. If the rule is adopted, those requirements will need to change — and you don't want to be caught explaining to clients mid-renewal why their carrier's terms have shifted.
Fire Sprinkler Rules — Informal Draft Stage
TDI is working on updated fire sprinkler requirements. These are still in the informal draft stage, meaning TDI is gathering input before publishing a formal proposed rule. If you write commercial property or habitational risks, the final rule could affect how certain properties are rated or whether specific sprinkler system types satisfy carrier requirements.
TWIA Rules Reorganization
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association rules are being reorganized in an informal working draft. While the focus appears to be structural, reorganized rules can still introduce subtle changes in definitions or procedures that affect how claims are handled or how eligibility is determined. If you write coastal property, it's worth tracking.
Where to monitor: TDI publishes all rulemaking activity on their Rules page, including informal draft postings, formal proposed rules, and comment period deadlines.
Rate Environment: What's Moving
TWIA — 0% Rate Change for 2026
The TWIA Board directed a filing for no rate increase in 2026 policies. For agents writing coastal wind coverage, this means premium stability for existing TWIA policyholders this year. That said, TWIA's rate adequacy is a perennial discussion, and a flat rate in 2026 doesn't guarantee the same in 2027 — especially if hurricane activity spikes.
Workers' Comp — NCCI Proposed 3.8% Decrease
NCCI filed an advisory loss cost decrease of 3.8% effective July 1, 2026 (Bulletin B-0001-26). Individual carriers set their own rates using NCCI loss costs as a starting point, so the actual impact on your clients' premiums depends on their carrier's deviation. But directionally, the WC market in Texas continues to soften.
Personal Auto and Homeowner's — Market Tightening
This isn't a single regulatory change but a market reality that's driving regulatory attention. Carrier pullbacks in certain geographies — particularly hail-prone areas and coastal zones — are pushing more Texas homeowners toward the residual market or non-admitted carriers. HB 2067's written denial requirement and TDI's proposed tying ban are both responses to this tightening. If your book includes clients in affected areas, build relationships with surplus lines brokers now rather than scrambling when a standard carrier non-renews.
What to Watch for the Rest of 2026
Q2 (April–June):
TWIA rate filing deadline (August 15) — watch for Board discussions in Q2
Commissioner Crawford's first round of enforcement bulletins
“Speak Up, Texas!” forum schedule — attend if one is near you
Q3–Q4 (July–December):
NCCI loss cost changes take effect July 1
TDI response to TWIA rate filing due October 15
Any formal rulemaking that advances from the current informal draft stage
Pre-session positioning for the 2027 Legislature (90th Regular Session)
The 2027 legislative session will likely bring a wave of new insurance bills. Agents who stayed current on TDI rulemaking and enforcement trends throughout 2026 will be better positioned to understand what's coming — and to provide input during the comment periods that matter.
Key Resources
TDI News & Press Releases — official announcements
TDI Bulletins — regulatory bulletins and circulars
TDI Rules & Rulemaking — proposed and adopted rules
Texas Register — official administrative register (Title 28 covers insurance)
Speak Up, Texas! — Commissioner Crawford's community forums
This article is maintained by TX Insurance Watch and updated as new regulatory changes are announced. For informational purposes only — not legal advice. Always verify requirements directly with TDI or qualified counsel before taking compliance action.
TX Insurance Watch — The TDI Translator. Weekly regulatory summaries for Texas insurance professionals: txinsurancewatch.com