CIVIL/ACTIONS: Provides relative to direct action against an insurer
This bill modifies the rules for joining insurance companies as defendants in civil lawsuits, primarily affecting plaintiffs, defendants, and liability insurers. It allows courts to add an insurer to a case after a verdict or settlement is reached to ensure the judgment can be enforced, provided the lawsuit falls within the policy's coverage limits and the insurer has not previously denied coverage. The legislation also establishes specific deadlines for insurers to formally notify insured individuals when they decide not to cover a claim or refuse to defend them in court. Additionally, it sets procedures for how insurers must communicate their decision to reserve rights regarding a claim, requiring written notice to the insured and the insured's legal counsel within a set timeframe before trial.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
May 2024
Introduced Feb 29, 2024
Signed May 23, 2024
Floor votes · Senate May 7, 2024 · House Mar 27, 2024
How they voted
37–0
Passed
Total votes 37
May 7, 2024
D
Democratic12
100% Yea
R
Republican25
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 8, 2024
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 7, 2024
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 39 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 29, 2024
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 24, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Mar 27, 2024
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 86, nays 16. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 21, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (11-7).
lower
Mar 11, 2024
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Insurance.
lower
Feb 29, 2024
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Insurance.
lower
1 primary · 27 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jack McFarland
RRepublican
Co
Adam Bass
RRepublican
Co
Alan Seabaugh
RRepublican
Co
BA
Beryl Amedée
RRepublican
Co
Beth Billings
RRepublican
Co
Blake Miguez
RRepublican
Co
Cameron Henry
RRepublican
Co
Chuck Owen
RRepublican
Co
Dewith Carrier
RRepublican
Co
Gabe Firment
RRepublican
Co
Glen Womack
RRepublican
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