Texas didn’t become the powerhouse it is today by dawdling about; real, commonsense solutions that prioritize Texans’ quality of life have given the Lone Star State its competitive edge.
Governor Greg Abbott’s work never stops to ensure that Texas remains the greatest state for people to find their place and prosper. He understands that an even brighter Texas of tomorrow begins with a more affordable Texas today. On July 15, Governor Abbott announced the next phase of his plan to Keep Texas Affordable: cut the cost of home and car insurance.
Extreme weather events are an unfortunate reality in Texas. Derechos, hurricanes and severe storms hammer Texas communities every year — and the damage left in their wake is the leading cause of home insurance claims in the state, which skyrockets homeowners’ annual premiums. Governor Abbott’s newly announced affordability proposals will lower the cost of home insurance by establishing a $400 million Texas roof fortification program. The program will provide up to $10,000 per participating homeowner to improve the resiliency of roofs and defend against future wind and hail damage.
Although the program is the first of its kind in Texas, all Gulf Coast states — plus Oklahoma — have already adopted plans to safeguard roofs against Mother Nature and are reaping the benefits. Texas will see the impact, too. In total, a strengthened roof could save Texas homeowners nearly $16,000 in savings and up to eight percent on their annual home insurance rates.
Governor Abbott also has plans to change state law so that safe drivers are rewarded with lower auto insurance premiums. Texas is an outlier — one of the only U.S. states that does not allow all insurers to consider moving violations when setting insurance rates. Governor Abbott’s affordable car insurance plan will increase savings by up to 30%, which translates to savings for good drivers of roughly $400 per vehicle.
These proposals come on the heels of historic action taken by Governor Abbott to keep Texas the most affordable large state in the nation. During Governor Abbott’s tenure, he has already delivered meaningful property tax reforms, capped insulin costs at $25 per prescription, declared income tax unconstitutional, and frozen undergraduate tuition and fees at Texas public colleges and universities. But he’s not done: Governor Abbott is advancing additional property tax relief that could save the average Texas homeowner up to $3,000 every year, with even more affordability initiatives still to come.
It is undeniable: in Texas, families come first. Governor Abbott’s plan to Keep Texas Affordable proves it. In the coming days, Governor Abbott will release the next steps in his Texas affordability agenda; further action that will altogether save Texans thousands of dollars annually. Thanks to Governor Abbott’s commonsense leadership, Texas remains on top — the greatest state in the entire nation to live, work, and raise a family.