Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program: what you need to know

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

Last month, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3089, the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act, into law and kick-started the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) into organizing the program that will help Oklahomans fortify their homes and reduce homeowners insurance rates. The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program is set to begin early next year, so this month, I want to answer some key questions about the program’s timeline and criteria.

When will the application open?

The law will go into effect on November 1, 2024, and the application will open in early 2025. OID has already begun our implementation process, including creating consumer information materials, building the grant application and providing resources for evaluators and contractors. We will announce when the applications are open and continue to provide key updates to consumers.

What are the criteria for securing a grant?

The grants are open to homeowners who have their primary residence in any of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Your home must be in good repair unless you have sustained damage from a tornado, windstorm, hail, or other catastrophic event. In addition, you must provide proof that you have an active homeowners insurance policy with wind coverage and an in-force flood insurance policy if your home is in a special flood hazard area. After completing the application, you will secure a home evaluator from our list of approved evaluators. Once the project is approved and work is completed, we will make payment to the roofing contractor directly.

What will the grant cover?

After evaluating your application and determining whether your home can be mitigated, the grant funds will be used to outfit your home to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) standards, specifically IBHS FORTIFIED Home – Roof™ – High Wind designation with the Hail Supplement. Mitigation under this standard includes enhanced roof deck attachment, sealed roof deck, locked down roof edges, impact-resistant shingles by IBHS, and wind and rain-resistant attic vents.

How will I save on my homeowners insurance?

Insurance companies offer discounts for Homes with a FORTIFIED Home™ Designation on the wind portion of their homeowner’s insurance premium. In making these enhancements to your home, you could qualify for discounts of up to 42%. You can find a list of some of the discounts on our website. Each company is different, and discounts vary. Check with your carrier to see which specific discounts would be available.

Which contractors can I use?

Contractors must become Certified FORTIFIED service providers to be chosen as part of the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program. This certification requires specific training and an examination. Once contractors are certified, they will submit their information to OID for final review and approval to be added to the list of approved contractors. You can read more about the FORTIFIED Homes service provider certification process on the FORTIFIED Home website. I’m looking forward to helping Oklahomans make their homes more resilient to disasters and bringing some relief amid rising prices through this pivotal new program launching next year. To receive more information about the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program and to get the latest updates, visit oid.ok.gov/okready and follow OID on social media.