Relating to the funding mechanism for the regulation of workers' compensation and workers' compensation insurance; authorizing surcharges.
SB 1455 authorizes surcharges on workers' compensation insurance policies to fund the Texas Department of Insurance's regulation of workers' compensation programs. The bill amends the Insurance Code to establish these surcharges as a dedicated revenue source, directly affecting workers' compensation insurance providers who would pay the added fees. Key provisions include updating funding mechanisms under Title 3 of the Insurance Code to allow surcharges for regulatory costs, while specifying that these funds must support the department's oversight functions. The bill became effective January 1, 2026, after passing both legislative chambers and being filed without the governor's signature.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 19, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
May 22, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas workers' compensation insurance surcharges and maintenance taxes to align with new accessibility standards and modernize the statutory language used throughout the Insurance and Labor Codes. The changes standardize terminology between 'surcharge' and 'maintenance tax' across multiple code sections and clarify how funds are collected and deposited.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on workers' compensation insurance regulation, but it clarifies applicability by unifying terminology and updating effective dates to January 1, 2026.
DEFINITION
Standardized terminology throughout the Insurance Code and Labor Code to consistently use 'surcharge [maintenance tax]' in brackets, clarifying that both terms refer to the same funding mechanism.
TIMELINE
Established a new effective date of January 1, 2026, for the changes in law related to surcharges on gross workers' compensation premiums.
FISCAL
Updated deposit requirements to ensure all surcharges and maintenance taxes are deposited in the general revenue fund and reallocated to the Texas Department of Insurance operating account.
TECHNICAL
Added a note at the top of the enrolled bill text indicating that digital content has been updated to align with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.
Floor votes · House May 21, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
48
Key actions
13
Committee
10
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Business & Commerce
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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