Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
House committee advances cleanup to 'Fortified Roof' endorsement rule with amendments
Loading...
Summary
The House Insurance Committee reported House Bill 759 with amendments after adopting technical fixes and a provision limiting the mandatory offer to homes with roofs installed within the past 10 years; the Department of Insurance and industry witnesses generally supported the changes.
Chairman Furman led the committee in reporting House Bill 759, a Department of Insurance cleanup measure clarifying the mandatory offer of a Fortified Roof endorsement for homeowners policies.
Miss Johnson read the bill’s title and explanation, saying it “provides relative to fortified roof endorsements, to clarify certain requirements, and to provide for related matters.” Chairman Furman described the measure as clarifying that authorized insurers — not individual producers — must offer the endorsement and called it “a cleanup bill for the Department of Insurance.”
The committee first adopted a technical amendment (amendment set 2,183) without objection. Benjamin Albright of the Independent Insurance Agents of Louisiana urged removing language referring to insurance “producers” so the statutory obligation rests with the insurer rather than an agent without authority. Adam Patrick of the Department of Insurance indicated the department had no opposition to that clarification.
Members also adopted an amendment that makes the mandatory offer applicable only to residential structures with roofs installed within the past 10 years, while permitting insurers to voluntarily offer the endorsement for older roofs. Chairman Furman and Ryan Haney of the Louisiana Insurers Conference argued the change was a reasonable compromise to avoid placing insurers in a “no-win situation” when an aging roof is likely to require replacement.
Representative Phelps and Representative Bamberg pressed staff on how eligibility for retrofitting is determined and on refunds when an inspection later finds a house ineligible. Department witnesses said IBHS-certified evaluators determine retrofit eligibility and that such inspections typically cost about $300–$500; the bill contemplates refunding the premium for the endorsement less the inspection cost if a home is later deemed ineligible.
Staff read several support and opposition cards; most witnesses waived speaking. Chairman Furman closed debate, said the proposal “is just another tool… to incentivize people to upgrade to fortified,” and moved the bill favorably as amended. Seeing no objections, the committee reported HB 759 with amendments.
Next steps: HB 759 was reported to the House with committee amendments for consideration on the floor.
