Louisiana lawmakers considers $10K grants to hurricane proof roofs

Momentum is growing among Louisiana lawmakers to fund a program that would provide grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners to hurricane-proof their roofs, which experts have said is one of the long-term solutions to solve the state's property insurance crisis triggered by a series of devastating hurricanes since 2020.

The Louisiana Legislature is in the midst of a week-long Special Session seeking to mitigate skyrocketing property insurance costs and shrinking availability, but lawmakers are limited to a single, emergency bill to inject $45 million into an incentive fund to attract private insurers to the market.

Republican Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon and other industry experts insist the stopgap measure is necessary to prevent a widespread hit to homeownership in southern Louisiana, where the cost of insurance is exceeding the mortgage note for many.

Though lawmakers appear poised to pass the Special Session bill to attract new private insurers to begin reducing the number of homeowners forced into the state-sponsored Citizens, Louisiana's insurer of last resort for those who can't secure private insurance, the homeowner roof grant program has also taken center stage.

In fact, Republican Winnfield Rep. Jack McFarland proposed an amendment that would require any of the $45 million that isn't awarded to insurance companies be transferred to the state's Louisiana Fortify Homes Program for homeowner grants to secure their roofs.

McFarland withdrew the amendment after it was ruled that it wasn't germane to the bill, but he said House leadership promised to support funding the Fortify program during the Regular Session that begins April 10.

"This program directly benefits our taxpayers and provides more of a long-term solution to our crisis," said McFarland, chairman of the House Conservative Caucus. "I think everybody agrees this is the best Plan B we have for real solutions."

Roofs that meet or exceed the fortify standards of the Insurance Institute for Business can withstand 150 mph winds, Donelon said.

Fortified roof standards include construction methods that literally fasten roofs to the homes they're protecting.

"They're the next best thing to concrete roofs and they really work," Donelon said.

"If you save the roof, the rest of the damage inside the home isn't nearly as bad," said House Insurance Committee Chairman Mike Huval, a Republican from Breaux Bridge.

Discussion about the Fortify Homes Program threatened to eclipse discussion about the Special Session bill in Tuesday's House Appropriations Committee.

"Look, we all agree Fortify is the way to go; we just have to decide how to get there," said Appropriations Chairman Jerome "Z" Zeringue, a Republican from Houma.

Alabama has had its own fortify program for about five years, where Donelon said about 30,000 homeowners have secured $10,000 grants.

Roofs that meet fortify standards cost about 20% more than standard roofs, which is less of a burden for new construction than it is to replace an existing roof.

That's why Donelon said Alabama increased its grant limit to $10,000. He said there was little interest in Alabama's initial $2,500 grants.

"Do we want to limit the grants or give $10,000 to motivate (homeowners)?" Donelon said.

More:Louisiana lawmakers say homeowners will be homeless if Legislature doesn't pass incentives

More:Four things to know about Louisiana insurance crisis, Special Session to fix it

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1