85R1538 MEW-D     By: Alonzo H.B. No. 1018       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prohibition of certain insurance discrimination.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 544.002, Insurance Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (a)  A person may not refuse to insure or provide coverage to   an individual, refuse to continue to insure or provide coverage to   an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage   available for an individual, or charge an individual a rate that is   different from the rate charged to other individuals for the same   coverage because of the individual's:                (1)  race, color, religion, or national origin;                (2)  age, gender, marital status, or geographic   location; [or]                (3)  disability or partial disability; or                (4)  sexual orientation or gender identity or   expression.          (d)  In this section:                (1)  "Gender identity or expression" means a person's   having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity,   appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity,   appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that   stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.                (2)  "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived   heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.