INSURANCE CODE
TITLE 5. PROTECTION OF CONSUMER INTERESTS
SUBTITLE C. DECEPTIVE, UNFAIR, AND PROHIBITED PRACTICES
CHAPTER 542A. CERTAIN CONSUMER ACTIONS RELATED TO CLAIMS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE
Sec. 542A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Agent" means an employee, agent, representative, or adjuster who performs any act on behalf of an insurer.
(2) "Claim" means a first-party claim that:
(A) is made by an insured under an insurance policy providing coverage for real property or improvements to real property;
(B) must be paid by the insurer directly to the insured; and
(C) arises from damage to or loss of covered property caused, wholly or partly, by forces of nature, including an earthquake or earth tremor, a wildfire, a flood, a tornado, lightning, a hurricane, hail, wind, a snowstorm, or a rainstorm.
(3) "Claimant" means a person making a claim.
(4) "Insurer" means a corporation, association, partnership, or individual, other than the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, engaged as a principal in the business of insurance and authorized or eligible to write property insurance in this state, including:
(A) an insurance company;
(B) a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange;
(C) a mutual insurance company;
(D) a capital stock insurance company;
(E) a county mutual insurance company;
(F) a farm mutual insurance company;
(G) a Lloyd's plan;
(H) an eligible surplus lines insurer; or
(I) the FAIR Plan Association, unless a claim-related dispute resolution procedure is available to policyholders under Chapter 2211.
(5) "Person" means a corporation, association, partnership, or other legal entity or individual.
Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 151 (H.B. 1774), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.