Governor Approves Remote Contested Case Hearings, Maintenance Surcharge Rebrand

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill allowing the Division of Workers' Compensation to hold contested case hearings by video conference. House Bill 2488, allowing the remote hearings, took effect immediately when Abbott signed it Friday. The same day, the governor signed bills eliminating group self-insurance and limiting the use of automated decision systems for utilization review, which both take effect Sept. 1. The governor also allowed a measure reclassifying certain maintenance taxes as surcharges to take effect without his signature. HB 2488, by Rep. Keith Bell, R-Athens, allows t...