The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Commissioner David Mattax appointed a new TWIA Board of Directors on October 1, 2015, reflecting the changes required by Senate Bill 900 (the “Windstorm Reform Bill”).

Before October 1, 2015, the law required the Board to consist of four industry representatives, four public first-tier coastal representatives, one public non-coastal representative and one non-voting licensed engineer.

Now the Board consists of three public members residing in the first tier coastal counties and representing certain regions of the catastrophe area, three non-coastal representatives residing more than 100 miles from the coast, and three industry representatives actively writing and renewing windstorm and hail insurance in the first tier coastal counties. You can learn more on the Board of Directors page of our website.

TWIA leadership and staff look forward to working closely with the new board members to fulfill the Association's mission of efficiently providing essential property insurance products and services for eligible Texas policyholders when no one else will. The first quarterly meeting of the new board will occur December 8, 2015 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Anyone can listen in on TWIA Board of Directors meetings; they are live-streamed on our website and can be accessed via our Upcoming Meetings page.

On a more personal note, I am sad to report that after the new Board was appointed, returning member Ron Lawson passed away. Ron was a leader in the insurance industry and was active in many insurance organizations, including ICT, the ICT Education Foundation, AFACT, JUA, TWIA and the FAIR Plan. He will be missed. TDI will handle the task of appointing a new member to serve in his stead.