Monitoring the Session

SB 455

surplus lines arbitration happens in Texas, under Texas law

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to arbitration provisions in surplus lines insurance contracts.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Contracts get read under Texas law too.

The bill requires any surplus lines insurance contract that includes an arbitration agreement to hold the arbitration in Texas under Texas law. It also requires those contracts to be interpreted under Texas law. It touches surplus lines insurers and the Texans who buy those policies, and it applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on May 27, 2025.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 796 (Vetoed). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB455 · 2024-11-21

SOLD BY

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to arbitration provisions in surplus lines insurance contracts.

WHAT IT DOES

Contracts get read under Texas law too.

The bill requires any surplus lines insurance contract that includes an arbitration agreement to hold the arbitration in Texas under Texas law. It also requires those contracts to be interpreted under Texas law. It touches surplus lines insurers and the Texans who buy those policies, and it applies to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 12, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Business & Commerce
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Co-author authorized
  15. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  16. Laid before the Senate
  17. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Three day rule suspended
  20. Record vote
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the Senate
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Insurance
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  30. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  31. Committee report distributed
  32. Committee report sent to Calendars
  33. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 2275
  34. Read 2nd time
  35. Amended 1-Morgan
  36. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  37. Record vote RV#1955
  38. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Passed
  41. Record vote RV#2071
  42. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  43. House passage as amended reported
  44. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
  45. Read
  46. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
  47. Record vote
  48. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
  49. Reported enrolled
  50. Signed in the Senate
  51. Signed in the House
  52. Sent to the Governor
  53. Filed without the Governor's signature
  54. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 118 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Mayes Middleton

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1.14MRussell Gordy$300,000Kenneth Fisher$215,000

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1,140,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,140,000.00

Cash
$1,140,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$1,140,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.

Russell Gordy$300,000.00
Kenneth Fisher$215,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,140,000.00

Cash
$1,140,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$1,140,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.

Votes6

Senate May 14, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Middleton moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 455. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 10, 2025

Yea
118
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
6
Excused
24
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2071

SB 455 was passed by (Record 2071): 118 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 118 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 24 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 9, 2025

Yea
133
Nay
4
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
7
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1955

SB 455, as amended, was passed to third reading by (Record 1955): 133 Yeas, 4 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 133 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 455 (Middleton) Relating to arbitration provisions in certain surplus lines insurance contracts. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 455 (Middleton) Relating to arbitration provisions in certain surplus lines insurance contracts. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 455 (Middleton) Relating to arbitration provisions in certain surplus lines insurance contracts. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses15
For
7
Against
6
On
2
Names

For

  • AARP Texas1 registration
  • Abba Claims Consultants1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters1 registration
  • Self; Texas Trial Lawyers Assn1 registration
  • Texas Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (TAPIA)1 registration
  • Texas Watch1 registration

Against

  • American Property Casualty Insurance Association1 registration
  • Chubb1 registration
  • Insurance Council of Texas1 registration
  • National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies1 registration
  • Self; Velocity Risk Underwriters1 registration
  • Wholesale Specialty Insurance Association1 registration

On

  • Independent Insurance Agents of Texas1 registration
  • Texas Department of Insurance1 registration
Sources

15 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 12, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 796

by Sen. Middleton, same lead author · Vetoed · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Jun 17, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor

Relating to arbitration provisions in surplus lines insurance contracts.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 21, 2024

05/27/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sarah EckhardtDSenate 14
Sponsors
Matt MorganRHouse 26 Jeff BarryRHouse 29 Ann JohnsonDHouse 134 Cassandra Garcia HernandezDHouse 115 John BryantDHouse 114
Cosponsors
Daniel AldersRHouse 6 Alma A. AllenDHouse 131 Rafael AnchíaDHouse 103 Trent AshbyRHouse 9 Cecil Bell Jr.RHouse 3 Keith BellRHouse 4 Diego M. BernalDHouse 123 Salman BhojaniDHouse 92 Rhetta Andrews BowersDHouse 113 Brad BuckleyRHouse 54 John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136 Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63 Briscoe CainRHouse 128 Elizabeth "Liz" CamposDHouse 119 Sheryl ColeDHouse 46 David CookRHouse 96 Philip CortezDHouse 117 Charles CunninghamRHouse 127 Pat CurryRHouse 56 Yvonne DavisDHouse 111 Jay DeanRHouse 7 Mano DeAyalaRHouse 133 Mark DorazioRHouse 122 Harold V. Dutton Jr.DHouse 142 Paul DysonRHouse 14 Lulu FloresDHouse 51 James FrankRHouse 69 Josey GarciaDHouse 124 Linda GarciaDHouse 107 Gary GatesRHouse 28 Stan GerdesRHouse 17 Jessica GonzálezDHouse 104 Mary E. GonzálezDHouse 75 R.D. "Bobby" GuerraDHouse 41 Ryan GuillenRHouse 31 Sam HarlessRHouse 126 Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Richard HayesRHouse 57 Cole HefnerRHouse 5 Ana HernandezDHouse 143 Gina HinojosaDHouse 49 Andy HopperRHouse 64 Lacey HullRHouse 138 Todd HunterRHouse 32 Carrie IsaacRHouse 73 Venton JonesDHouse 100 Helen KerwinRHouse 58 Stan KitzmanRHouse 85 Marc LaHoodRHouse 121 Suleman LalaniDHouse 76 Mitch LittleRHouse 65 Oscar LongoriaDHouse 35 AJ LouderbackRHouse 30 David LoweRHouse 91 J. M. LozanoRHouse 43 John LujanRHouse 118 Shelley LutherRHouse 62 Christian ManuelDHouse 22 Armando "Mando" MartinezDHouse 39 Trey Martinez FischerDHouse 116 Don McLaughlinRHouse 80 John McQueeneyRHouse 97 Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Terry MezaDHouse 105 Brent MoneyRHouse 2 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148 Christina MoralesDHouse 145 Eddie MoralesDHouse 74 Sergio Muñoz Jr.DHouse 36 Candy NobleRHouse 89 Mike OlcottRHouse 60 Tom OliversonRHouse 130 Claudia OrdazDHouse 79 Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Mary Ann PerezDHouse 144 Vincent PerezDHouse 77 Katrina PiersonRHouse 33 Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70 Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42 Ron ReynoldsDHouse 27 Keresa RichardsonRHouse 61 Ramon Romero Jr.DHouse 90 Jon E. RosenthalDHouse 135 Nate SchatzlineRHouse 93 Alan SchoolcraftRHouse 44 Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11 Shelby SlawsonRHouse 59 John T. SmitheeRHouse 86 James TalaricoDHouse 50 Carl H. TepperRHouse 84 Tony TinderholtRHouse 94 Steve TothRHouse 15 Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19 Chris TurnerDHouse 101 Cody VasutRHouse 25 Denise VillalobosRHouse 34 Wes VirdellRHouse 53 Hubert VoDHouse 149 Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139 Erin ZwienerDHouse 45

House committee · Insurance · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

HB 2275 by Morgan (identical)

Subjects

Insurance--General

Insurance--Insurers & Agents

MEDIATION, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, & ARBITRATION

Text

The text as introduced · 180 words

89R590 SCL-D

By: Middleton
S.B. No. 455

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to arbitration provisions in surplus lines insurance

contracts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 981.101, Insurance Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) A surplus lines insurance contract that contains an

arbitration agreement must provide that:

(1) the arbitration will be:

(A) conducted in this state; and

(B) governed by the laws of this state; and

(2) the insurance contract will be interpreted in

accordance with the laws of this state.

SECTION 2. Section 981.101(d), Insurance Code, as added by

this Act, applies only to a surplus lines insurance contract

delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1,

2026. A surplus lines insurance contract delivered, issued for

delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2026, is governed by the law

as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and

that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.