Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Insurance to adopt rules that implement or are based on certain environmental, social, and governance models, ratings, or standards.

Texas Senate Bill 495 prohibits the Texas Department of Insurance from requiring insurers to follow environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards unless specifically authorized by law. It blocks rules based on ESG models, ratings, or standards developed by unlicensed entities (like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) or those that could harm Texas' economy, competitiveness, or public health. The bill defines key terms like "environmental assessment" (climate change impact) and "social assessment" (labor practices), and allows legal challenges if rules violate these restrictions. This directly affects Texas insurers and the Department of Insurance by limiting their regulatory authority over ESG-related requirements.