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Bill

Bill

SB 369

Relating to an appraisal procedure for disputed losses under personal automobile insurance policies.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Charles Schwertner

SB 369 modifies Texas auto insurance appraisal procedures for resolving damage disputes between insurers and policyholders outside of court proceedings.

Referred to Business & Commerce
#insurance--motorvehicles(i0435) #insurance--property&casualty(i0442)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 369

Legislative bill overview

SB 369 modifies the appraisal procedure that insurance companies and policyholders can use to resolve disputes over damage valuations in auto insurance claims. The bill establishes or clarifies the process by which disagreements about repair costs or vehicle value are settled through appraisal rather than litigation.

Why is this important

Auto insurance appraisals directly affect how quickly policyholders receive claim payments and how much they ultimately recover for vehicle damage. These procedures determine whether disputes are resolved through expert evaluation or costlier court proceedings, impacting both consumer access to timely compensation and insurance company claims administration.

Potential points of contention

  • Balance of procedural fairness: Whether the appraisal process adequately protects consumers from undervalued claims while avoiding unreasonable claims inflation
  • Cost allocation: Who bears the expenses for appraisers and related procedures if disputes arise, and whether this burden falls proportionally on insurers versus policyholders
  • Speed vs. thoroughness: Whether streamlined appraisal procedures sacrifice investigation quality or adequately prevent fraud while expediting legitimate claim resolution

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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