As Texans head to the polls today, many are thinking about property taxes, inflation, and the rising cost of living. But there’s another significant household expense that deserves attention: homeowners and auto insurance.
Texas insurance premiums have increased substantially in recent years, driven by severe weather, rising construction costs, expensive vehicle repairs, and higher claims expenses.
In fact, according to Governor Greg Abbott’s August 2026 announcement, average annual homeowners insurance premiums in Texas have increased approximately 79% over six years.
With insurance affordability becoming an election issue, could today’s results influence what Texans pay for coverage?
The answer is potentially yes, although changes won’t happen overnight.
Why Elections Matter to Insurance Pricing
While elected officials don’t directly set insurance premiums, they influence the laws and regulations governing insurance companies.
The Texas governor appoints the state’s insurance commissioner, who oversees the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Meanwhile, the Texas Legislature can enact laws affecting insurance rates, underwriting practices, consumer protections, and market competition.
These decisions can influence both the cost and availability of insurance throughout Texas.
Where Do Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa Stand?
The two major candidates for Texas governor have approached insurance affordability differently.
Governor Greg Abbott (Republican)
Governor Abbott has made insurance affordability a specific focus of his 2026 agenda.
In September, his administration announced several insurance reform initiatives, including:
- Roof fortification: Proposing a program to help homeowners strengthen their roofs against severe weather and encouraging insurers to recognize reduced risks in their pricing.
- Roof-age restrictions: Clarifying that insurers cannot decline or refuse to renew homeowners coverage solely because of a roof’s age, rather than its actual condition.
- Insurance pricing protections: Enforcing existing prohibitions against “price optimization,” which involves charging customers based on factors unrelated to insurance risk, such as their likelihood of shopping around.
- Auto insurance reform: Proposing legislation that would allow all auto insurers to use driving records in their rating calculations.
- Insurance fraud prevention: Establishing a task force to investigate insurance fraud and its effect on claims costs.
Some initiatives are already moving through regulatory channels, while others would require legislative action.
State Representative Gina Hinojosa (Democrat)
Gina Hinojosa has focused much of her campaign on making Texas more affordable through property tax relief, government accountability, and reducing household expenses.
Her proposals include a one-time $1,500 payment to Texas households using state reserves, subject to legislative approval, along with proposals to reduce residential property taxes.
However, as of Election Day, Hinojosa has not publicly outlined a comparably detailed plan specifically addressing homeowners and auto insurance regulation.
Her broader affordability initiatives could affect household finances, but their direct impact on insurance premiums remains uncertain.
Could Texas Homeowners Finally See Some Insurance Relief?
There is already some encouraging news.
According to an October 2026 report from the Texas Department of Insurance:
- Homeowners insurance rate changes filed during the preceding 90 days averaged a 4.3% decrease, affecting approximately 700,000 policyholders.
- Auto insurers filed rate decreases affecting approximately 4.4 million Texas policyholders since July 1.
These figures are encouraging, but they don’t mean everyone’s premiums will decrease. Individual pricing still depends on location, claims history, coverage selections, property characteristics, and the insurance company.
Why Roof-Age Reform Could Be Particularly Important
One proposal that deserves attention is the effort to prevent insurance companies from declining homeowners coverage solely because of roof age.
For years, some Texas homeowners have struggled to find coverage because their roofs exceeded an insurance company’s age guidelines—even when those roofs remained in good condition.
In September, TDI announced a rule clarification addressing roof-age underwriting, distinguishing between a roof’s age and its actual physical condition.
This could have meaningful implications for insurance availability, particularly in areas prone to hailstorms.
However, insurance companies can still evaluate a roof’s condition and other legitimate risk characteristics. Whether these changes ultimately improve affordability will depend on how they are implemented and how insurers respond.
What Can Texas Homeowners and Drivers Do Today?
Regardless of who wins today’s election, Texans don’t have to wait for legislative changes to explore ways to reduce insurance costs.
One of the most effective strategies is to compare coverage and pricing among multiple insurance companies.
Different carriers evaluate risks differently, meaning the company offering the most competitive rate last year might not be your best option today.
It’s also important to review deductibles, coverage limitations, available discounts, and opportunities to bundle policies.
How Barouh Insurance Agency Can Help
At Barouh Insurance Agency, we understand how frustrating rising insurance costs can be.
As an independent Texas insurance agency, we work with multiple insurance companies rather than representing just one carrier. This allows us to compare options and help our clients find competitive pricing without sacrificing important coverage.
We also understand that the lowest premium isn’t always the best value. Higher wind and hail deductibles, restrictive roof coverage, or other policy limitations can create significant out-of-pocket expenses when a claim occurs.
Our goal is simple: Help Texas homeowners and drivers find the right balance of coverage, protection, and affordability.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Texas midterm elections could influence the future of insurance regulation, consumer protections, and competition among insurance companies.
But regardless of today’s election results, the underlying costs of severe weather, property repairs, and automobile claims will continue to influence insurance premiums.
If you haven’t reviewed your home or auto insurance recently, now is a great time to explore your options.
Contact Barouh Insurance Agency to see how we can help you protect what matters most while keeping your insurance costs competitive.
