TX HB4074

Requires insurance umpires and appraisers to obtain a state license from the Texas Department of Insurance, with applicants completing a 40-hour pre-licensing course, passing a state exam, undergoing a fingerprint-based criminal background check, and maintaining a surety bond of at least $10,000

Licenses are valid for two years and require 24 hours of continuing education for renewal, including at least 3 hours of ethics training and at least 12 hours completed in a classroom or equivalent setting

Authorizes administrative penalties of $50 per deficient hour for failing to complete continuing education requirements and up to $4,500 per violation for acting as an unlicensed umpire or appraiser

Defines "appraiser" as an individual selected to assess damages or loss in an insurance dispute and "umpire" as a neutral third party who resolves disputes between appraisers in the insurance appraisal process

Provides a transition period for existing umpires and appraisers operating before the Act's effective date, exempting them from licensing requirements until September 1, 2027, with temporary licensing procedures to be established