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Texas Rep. Diana Maldonado (D-Round Rock) Thursday called for homeowners' insurance reform following huge rate hikes by the state's largest insurer.

Late last year, State Farm Insurance increased homeowners' insurance rates 8.8 percent, and in May, the number will rise another 4.5 percent. In November, State Farm was ordered to repay home policyholders $310 million for overcharging coverage dating back to 2003.

Texas homeowners pay the second highest insurance premiums in the nation, according to the release.

"Forcing rate increase after rate increase on Texas homeowners is unacceptable and it is past time for the legislature to reverse course," Rep guaranteed unsecured personal loan. Maldonado said.

Before 2003, the Texas Department of Insurance set insurance rates and companies had to ask for approval to increase premiums. But after that year, the Legislature replaced the "prior approval" mandate with a "file and use" system, which only requires companies to inform the department of changes instead of asking.

Several bills reversing the 2003 decision have been proposed, but never passed.

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