Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready will participate in a ceremonial signing of House Bill 3089 – The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act.

Time: 11 a.m.

Date: Tuesday, July 9

Location: Governor's Blue Room, second floor of the State Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd.

"This measure assists homeowners in proactively protecting their homes from the destructive forces of nature in an effort to lower their insurance costs," Tedford said. "I'm pleased to bring together the various stakeholders who helped work on this legislation and those who will benefit from it to celebrate its signing."

HB3089 establishes a grant program to assist residential property owners to construct or retrofit homes against the destructive forces of tornadoes, windstorms or hail. Grants will be administered by the Oklahoma Insurance Department for individuals with insurable property who reside in an approved county, meet certain home conditions, and own an owner-occupied, single-family residence.

The legislation is co-authored by Reps. Ellyn Hefner, D-Oklahoma City, and Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, is the principal Senate author.

HB 3089 was signed into law by the governor May 13. Ceremonial bill signings are held as a way to allow lawmakers and others involved in the drafting of legislation to engage in this part of the process.

Under the measure, grant funds may be used by qualifying homeowners to reinforce their roofs with impact-resistant materials that meet the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) fortified standards. This will enable consumers to construct or retrofit their homes with impact-resistant shingles and other enhancements.

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to lower-income applicants and applicants who live in areas more prone to catastrophic weather. The property owner must hire an approved evaluator to prequalify the property, obtain bids from at least three approved contractors, and follow specific retrofitting standards.

The measure becomes effective Nov. 1., with the first grants going out in 2025.