H.B. No. 5017 introduces a new requirement for personal automobile insurance policies in Texas, specifically addressing situations where the insured is unresponsive. The bill adds Section 1952.061 to the Insurance Code, mandating that insurers must attempt to communicate with the named insured at least five times or until a response is received within a 45-day period after a liability claim is made by a third party. If the insurer is unable to establish communication during this timeframe, they are required to pay the claim to the third-party claimant in accordance with the policy and decline to renew the policy.

This new provision applies to all insurers authorized to write automobile insurance in Texas, including various types of insurance companies. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to insurance policies that are delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()