SHA has helped states across the country develop and pass legislation that makes resilient construction accessible, incentivizes it, and makes it financially worthwhile for homeowners. Based on that experience, five policy levers consistently move the needle. Alabama has all five and leads the nation in FORTIFIED construction. States that have adopted one or more are seeing results.
1. FORTIFIED Insurance Discounts
Requires insurance companies to provide premium discounts, rate reductions, or deductible adjustments for homeowners with a valid FORTIFIED designation. Discounts apply to policies that include wind coverage and must be submitted to the state Department of Insurance.
Example: AL 2015 SB254
2. Roofing Grant Program
Provides grants to homeowners to replace their roofs to the FORTIFIED standard. Grant programs lower the cost barrier for homeowners and drive adoption at scale. Alabama's Strengthen Alabama Homes program and Louisiana's Fortify Homes Program are both built on this model.
Example: LA Act 554
3. FORTIFIED Roof Endorsement
Requires insurers to offer an endorsement at renewal or new policy issuance that upgrades a home to the FORTIFIED standard when roof damage requires replacement. This embeds resilience into the normal claims and renewal cycle rather than requiring a separate homeowner decision.
Example: AL 2019 HB283
4. Retrofit Tax Deduction
Allows homeowners to deduct from state income a portion of the costs associated with upgrading their home to better withstand wind and rain. Reduces the net cost of mitigation and makes the financial case easier to make.
Example: AL 2011 SB395
5. Catastrophe Savings Accounts
Allows homeowners to deduct deposits into a designated savings account from state income. Funds can be used to cover repair costs and losses to a principal residence. Gives homeowners a tax-advantaged way to prepare financially for disaster recovery.
Example: AL 2012 SB227
Beyond the Five
Alongside these five policies, SHA recommends that states adopt and enforce modern building codes and establish licensure requirements for contractors, roofers, and trades. Both significantly raise the baseline quality of construction and improve a state's ability to compete for federal resilience funding, including FEMA BRIC.
SHA can provide technical assistance at any stage, from drafting legislation to supporting testimony to advising on program implementation.