Rep. Ed Thompson
Rep. Mark Keough
Representative Ed Thompson (R-Pearland) and Representative-elect Mark Keough (R-The Woodlands) have filed proposed legislation to prohibit Texas insurers from offering named driver insurance policies in the state. A named driver policy is an automobile policy that covers only drivers specifically named in the policy and excludes other drivers in the named insured’s household. A named driver policy may also exclude other drivers using a vehicle covered by the policy but not residing in the named insured’s household. The bar also extends to policy endorsements that cover only named drivers. Rep. Thompson’s version (HB 335) differs from Rep.-elect Keough’s (HB 318) in that it allows an insurer to offer a policy that excludes drivers specifically named in the policy, as long as it does not exclude a class of drivers. Last session, Rep. Thompson passed a version of the bill (HB 1773) in the House, but it died in Senate committee.
