AutoEsolutions

Bend a Knee? Not on Your Life!

LLet me just start by telling y’all how excited I am about the 88th legislative session. We only get to do this every two years, and my utmost focus as president of this association is to put the pressure on and get this legislation passed…And ABAT is definitely putting the pressure on!

We’ve got two bills ready to file, and I have a lot of faith in our ability to get them to the finish line (check out page 14 for an in-depth look at our legislative agenda). We spent last year preparing for this coming session. One of the key things that Robert McDorman and I did this past fall was testify at the Texas House Committee on Insurance’s public hearing in defense of Right to Appraisal (you can read the recap at grecopublishing.com/ txa1022coverstory).

It’s not always easy to tell if that type of testimony actually makes a difference – but we can sure see it in this instance!

First of all, the Texas House Insurance Committee Report indicated that the Right to Appraisal has been the “market standard in Texas” and recommended that the committee continue to monitor this situation.

And then even more surprising, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) actually referenced this important matter in its 2022 Biennial Report (available for download at tdi.texas.gov/reports/documents/biennial-report.pdf). Now, of course, they merely made it a consideration instead of a recommendation, but the fact that they mentioned it at all tells me that it’s a pretty important topic. TDI defined the issue as, “Auto and residential property insurers want to restrict or eliminate a policyholder’s contractual Right to Appraisal.”

Well, I sure see that as an issue too! I also think it’s pretty problematic that TDI approved State Farm’s request to eliminate the Appraisal Clause in policies, starting in 2015, leaving policyholders with the Right to Appraisal only on total loss disputes. And although TDI rejected GEICO’s similar filing last summer, they only did so because GEICO “didn’t provide enough

Burl Richards ABAT President

continued on pg. 20

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Operation: Pass a Bill

HHellllloooo 2023! I’m coming in HOT this year on a mission: PASS. A. BILL. Y’all, this is it. THIS is our year. I mean, can’t you already feel my energy??? Call me Hanz or Franz because I’m here to PUMP! YOU! UP!

But seriously, we need you! We have hit this legislation thing HARD for four sessions now. That’s a LOT of years and a LOT of money, yet we’ve only seen marginal shop participation. But not this time! Oh no, we are going to activate and take Texas by the horns. ARE YOU READY?!

It’s really simple. You just have to put forth a small amount of energy and maybe like one lunch break. That’s it. Easy, right?

Here’s what we need you to do TODAY! (Seriously. They are already heading to Austin.) 1. Go to texaswatch.org/saferepairs. 2. Click the button that says “Contact your lawmakers.” 3. Fill in your information, and hit SEND!

By the time you read this message, we will have submitted our bills. We are fighting for safe and proper repairs from every angle this session, and we also believe that we have a strong appraisal bill. This issue has the support of so many and the attention of the Texas Department of Insurance as well as the Office of Public Insurance Council.

If insurance companies are allowed to remove the Appraisal Clause from their policies, it would have a domino effect on our industry, and we believe it would cause insurers to deny more and more since there would be no policy to prevent this behavior. Even if you are not a shop who encourages the use of this policy provision, the removal of this language could impact you. Please join us in the fight this session.

Following the steps above is the bare minimum we need out of every shop in Texas. We need difference-makers to step up even more.

Contact me today, and let’s make a difference in TEXAS!! Call me at (817) 8990554 or email Jill@abat.us.

Jill Tuggle

ABAT Executive Director

jill@abat.com

TXA

Saferepairs.org