SB 455 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to arbitration provisions in certain surplus lines insurance contracts.

SB 455 requires that surplus lines insurance contracts (for risks wholly located in Texas) include arbitration agreements conducted in Texas under Texas law, unless both insurer and policyholder agree to change the venue after the insurer provides written notice and a premium credit for added costs. This applies to new or renewed contracts on or after January 1, 2026, affecting insurers and policyholders purchasing specialized insurance for high-risk properties in Texas. The bill ensures arbitration venues and legal interpretations remain tied to Texas, preventing out-of-state arbitration without financial compensation to policyholders. It becomes effective September 1, 2025, but the new rules apply to contracts delivered after 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2024

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Nov 21, 2024 Signed May 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · May 15, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was updated from an Engrossed version to an Enrolled version, which is the final version ready for signing. The substantive policy content remains the same, though formatting and line breaks were adjusted. The bill adds new requirements for arbitration in surplus lines insurance contracts, including venue and governance rules, with an exception for high-value contracts over $2 million.

Scope change

No substantive scope change; the bill's applicability to surplus lines insurance contracts remains unchanged. The enrolled version includes the same policy provisions as the engrossed version with formatting adjustments.

TECHNICAL

Formatting and line breaks were adjusted throughout the document to conform to enrolled bill standards.

Added certification language confirming passage by the Senate and House with specific vote counts and dates.

Added signature lines for the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, and Governor.

Removed draft formatting markers and placeholder text from the engrossed version.

Floor votes · House May 9, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported

lower

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Senate concurs in House amendment(s)

upper

May 14, 2025

Introduced

House amendment(s) laid before the Senate

upper

May 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

House passage as amended reported

upper

May 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to 3rd reading as amended

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

May 9, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (132-3-7)

house

May 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Insurance

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business & Commerce

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

5 primary · 97 co-sponsors