What Governor Abbott’s New Insurance Directive Means for San Antonio Homeowners

If your homeowners insurance renewal gave you sticker shock this year, you’re not alone — and now the state is stepping in. Governor Greg Abbott recently sent a formal directive to the Texas Department of Insurance addressing the fact that the average Texas homeowners premium has climbed from under $2,000 in 2020 to more than $3,500 in 2026, a jump of nearly 80% in just six years.

The directive includes several specific changes. Insurers will be prohibited from refusing to write or renew a homeowners policy based solely on the age of the home or individual components like the roof. Insurance companies will also be required to factor in “FORTIFIED” roof certification — a construction and roofing standard built to withstand severe weather like high winds and hail — when calculating rates. That means homeowners who’ve invested in storm-resistant roofing could start seeing that reflected in their premiums.

What does this mean for you right now? Some of these changes will happen through direct administrative action at the Texas Department of Insurance, while others may require action from the Texas Legislature — so the full impact will roll out gradually, not overnight. But it’s a clear signal that regulators are paying attention to what San Antonio homeowners have been feeling for years: insurance costs have outpaced what feels reasonable.

In the meantime, the most effective thing a homeowner can do is make sure their policy is actually being shopped against multiple carriers, rather than automatically renewing year after year with the same company. Rate changes affect every insurer differently, and the only way to know if you’re paying more than you should is to compare.

Have questions about how this might affect your policy? Reach out — we’re happy to walk through it with you.