Insurers Have Poured Over $7.8 Million Into Texas State Republicans’ Campaigns While Killing Home-Hardening Legislation That Could Cut Premiums by Up to 55%
WASHINGTON, DC – New reporting from Insurify revealed that hailstorms are quietly becoming the next major driver of the American home insurance crisis, with nearly two-thirds (65%) of homeowners in storm-prone areas already reporting weather-related roof damage and average wind and hail deductibles in Texas reaching $7,761. Guaranteed insurance discounts for homeowners who strengthen their homes against wind, hail, and storm damage are a proven solution that helps lower premiums and recovery costs. Unlocking America’s Future found that the insurance industry is actively blocking proven solutions in Texas that could dramatically reduce the financial burden on homeowners while pouring $7.8 million into state Republican’s campaign accounts.
Insurify’s report confirms that hail and wind risk are causing expensive claims, leading insurers to shift more financial burden onto policyholders through higher deductibles and rising premiums. Texas, one of the states at the epicenter of the hail crisis, already ranks among the most expensive states for home insurance — with rates 55% higher than in 2019 and nearly double the national average. More than half of surveyed homeowners told Insurify they would invest in home improvements to reduce climate risk if it lowered their insurance costs, and nearly three-quarters said they would make some sacrifice to cut their premiums.
The solution exists — and the insurance industry knows it. Other impacted states provide a blueprint for other states and Texas. Alabama’s embrace of benchmark insurance discounts for homeowners who upgrade to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED standard has made the state a national model for disaster resilience. Homes built or retrofitted to the FORTIFIED standard saw 56%–70% lower frequency of storm claims, and insurers were legally required to provide discounts—typically 20–55% on the wind portion of premiums—to homeowners who made those upgrades. The result: more than 60,000 certified FORTIFIED homes and a more stable insurance market.
“Your home’s first line of defense against storms supercharged by climate change is its roof. Hailstorms are increasingly becoming one of the biggest drivers of the insurance crisis, and Americans who want to protect their homes and reduce risk deserve the chance to earn meaningful premium relief for doing so,” said Kyle Herrig, spokesperson for Unlocking America’s Future. “The playbook in Texas is clear: the insurance industry has spent nearly $8 million on politicians who then block the very discounts that would save homeowners money. While Texas families pay some of the highest premiums in the country and watch their deductibles climb, their elected officials are doing the industry’s bidding. That has to change.”
Texas regulators and insurers know these programs work. A 2024 Texas Department of Insurance–commissioned study confirmed that resilient construction plays a role in “mitigating structural damage” and “reducing insurance costs.” However, major insurers and their trade associations have repeatedly opposed or weakened legislative efforts to require premium discounts for resilient homes in the state. Including:
- In 2024 testimony to the Texas legislature, a National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies representative told legislators not to “mandate” discounts (2:08:05) related to FORTIFIED upgrades, claiming they “don’t move the needle.” (2:09:29)
- During the 2025 Legislative Session, the House considered a bill that would’ve linked insurance discounts to appropriations for a state grant program, as if requiring that the state subsidize upgrades was the only way to encourage homeowners to implement them. Meanwhile in Alabama, the state grant program has only funded 7,100 out of the nearly 60,000 FORTIFIED standard upgrades (2:24:27) built across the state, suggesting grant money is not an essential piece of the resiliency puzzle.
- During the 2025 session, the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) lobbied to water down a House proposal that would have required specific resilience discount benchmarks, replacing it with a vague “actuarially justified” discount requirement that left discount amounts entirely up to insurers.
Additional Resources:
Texas Home Insurance Report: How Homeowners Pay More For Less While Insurers Profit
###
