Phantom Policies are haunting Texas roads, making dangerous conditions for all drivers. These policies create gaps in coverage by excluding coverage for household members who are not specifically listed in a policy. This practice not only harms the policyholder who often believes they're covered but any third party involved in a crash. Today, 1.5 million Texans are driving with Phantom Policies and as such, only have phantom policy.
Today, Texas Watch submitted written testimony against SB 2205, which immunizes manufacturers and developers of autonomous vehicles in certain cases. We believe that the Texas Legislature should fight for innovation, not immunity. Read the full testimony below:
Yesterday, SB 693, which would require school districts to ensure that new school buses are equipped with three-point seat belts, was passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Transportation. SB 693 by Sen. Garcia is common-sense safety legislation acting on what Texans already know to be true: seat belts save lives.
Ware Wendell, Executive Director of Texas Watch, a non-partisan citizen advocacy organization that has sought to protect patients and preserve access to justice since 1998, released the following statement regarding the organization’s latest report on Texas' harsh medical malpractice laws:
Phantom policies are haunting Texas roads. HB 915 will remove these dangerous junk policies and it's critical that your legislator hears your voice. Take these few simple steps below to call your Texas State Representative in support of HB 915 by Representative Ed Thompson:
1) Look up who represents you at: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/find-your-representative/
2) Input your address and press "Find Rep"
Texas lawmakers are one step closer to clearing road blocks to a #SafeTexas. Yesterday, the House Insurance Committee unanimously approved HB 915, which would remove dangerous phantom insurance policies from Texas roads.
When car wrecks happen, Texans rely on insurance to help them get back on their feet. But with over 1.5 million vehicles driving with “phantom coverage,” Texas families are finding themselves unprotected and hung out to dry by insurers selling junk policies.
The 85th Legislative Session is here and we’re ready for the fight. We’re ready to make a stand to preserve policyholder protections, make our roads safer, and protect consumers.
Thanks to your support last session, we were able to beat back insurance lobbyists’ efforts to rob Texas policyholders of their vital legal protections. Now, insurance lobbyists are coming back for your rights.
Alex Winslow, executive director of Texas Watch, released the following statement:
The ATF held a press conference today speculating that the fire at the West fertilizer plant was a criminal act. They offered no scientific evidence for their conclusion, only that they claim to have ruled out other possible causes. Today’s media event did little to clear up the confusion about the events leading up to the fire at the West plant three years ago.
Has Texas done enough to prevent another tragedy like the West Fertilizer Company explosion? According to a Chemical Safety Board report released last month, we haven't. This month, we talked to Chemical Safety Board investigators Johnnie Banks and Lucy Tyler, Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy, and Texas Watch Deputy Director Ware Wendell about what this report means for the safety of Texans.
Tell your lawmaker to pass meaningful chemical safety reforms here.
