As we’ve previously reported, House Bill (HB) 2439 enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2015 changed the windstorm certification process. The new law creates a process for persons to obtain a certificate of compliance from TWIA for a completed improvement. The law requires the Commissioner of Insurance to adopt administrative rules to implement the new process by December 31, 2016. The process will apply to policies delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2017. 

The final rules have not been published. However, we are creating training aids for agents, engineers, and employees and developing new web pages on TWIA.org to provide you with updated information as soon as it becomes available. You may review the proposed rules on the TDI website and we will link to the final rules when they are posted.

We will continue to provide details as soon as they come available. In the meantime, here are a few quick facts we are able to share at this time:

  • TWIA’s certificate of compliance issued for completed improvements will be called a WPI-8-C (C for completed improvement).
  • A completed improvement is defined as

(A)  an improvement in which the original transfer of title from the builder to the initial owner of the improvement has occurred; or

o (B)  if a transfer under Paragraph (A) is not contemplated, an improvement that is substantially completed.

  •  TDI will continue to maintain their online database of WPI-8s issued by TDI. It will not contain the WPI-8-C certificates issued by TWIA.
  • There will not be a searchable database online for you to locate a WPI-8-C certificate for a particular property in the initial stage of this program. We will continue to refine the process with the goal of providing a searchable database later in 2017.
  • TDI will continue to maintain a list on their website of appointed qualified inspectors who can conduct inspections for ongoing improvements.

We understand you may have questions about the new process. We will continue to keep you updated on important developments pertaining to this program.

Sincerely,

Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

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