linkTestimony on House Bill 247 began at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, March 27th in the House Committee on Insurance. HB 247 would amend the Insurance Code to prohibit discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Currently, insurers cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, geographic location, disability or partial disability. HB 247 would expand the prohibition of discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
HB 247 is authored by Rep. Roberto Alonzo (D-Dallas), who filed a similar bill in the 2005 Legislative Session. Tuesday's hearing represents the first time testimony has been heard on the bill by the House Committee on Insurance. Equality Texas strongly supports the measure, and helped coordinate testimony from Texans with a personal stake in the legislation.
