Kentucky homeowners covered by an HO policy have a clearer path to Fortified roof upgrades after the state insurance commissioner ordered carriers to withdraw and resubmit noncompliant endorsement filings by Nov. 1, 2026. The bulletin explains what the 2024 law already required, and points out where several carrier filings cross the line.
What the commissioner found
Upon review, several Fortified endorsement filings have been found to contain language that violates KRS 304.13-346, the bulletin states. House Bill 256, signed into law in 2024, requires homeowners carriers to offer optional endorsements covering the cost, in claims payments, of upgrading homes to the Fortified standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. Carriers were required to begin offering the endorsements in March 2025.
The Fortified standard is a widely recognized construction designation shown to reduce roof and other damage caused by high winds. It relies on measures such as reinforced secondary water barriers and stronger roof connections.
Which exclusions go too far
The bulletin flags two specific patterns in carrier filings that exceed what state law allows.
- Excluding payment for loss when a dwelling or other structure does not meet IBHS requirements for foundation, roof rafter framing, roof sheathing, or roof decking.
- Excluding the increased costs of a more expensive roof material than the existing roof material.
Under the 2024 law, insurers shall not exclude mitigation requirements for roof rafter framing, roof sheathing, or roof decking. Carriers also shall not issue Fortified endorsements to homes with foundations ineligible for Fortified designation. Carriers concerned about mitigation costs are told to price the product according to the risk rather than narrow the endorsement.
What carriers must do now
Carriers that submitted incorrect endorsements must withdraw them and submit new filings by Nov. 1, 2026. Admitted carriers without an approved Fortified endorsement may face administrative action, including but not limited to civil penalties. Questions on the filings can be sent to the Kentucky Department of Insurance at [email protected].
Why the Fortified endorsement matters for homeowners
For a single-family homeowner, the endorsement is the mechanism that turns a standard HO policy into one that pays the extra cost of building back to a Fortified designation after a covered loss. Without a compliant endorsement on file, a homeowner could be told the upgrade cost is not covered, or that the policy will not pay because the existing roof deck, sheathing, or rafter framing does not meet IBHS requirements. The 2024 law was designed to remove those gaps for the mitigation elements it lists, and the November 1 deadline is the chance to make the filings match that intent.
FAQ
What is the Nov. 1, 2026 deadline for Kentucky insurers on Fortified endorsements?
Carriers that submitted noncompliant Fortified endorsement filings must withdraw them and resubmit filings that comply with KRS 304.13-346 by Nov. 1, 2026, according to the bulletin from the Kentucky insurance commissioner.
What does Kentucky’s 2024 House Bill 256 require for Fortified roofs?
House Bill 256 requires homeowners carriers to offer optional endorsements that cover the cost, in claims payments, of upgrading single-family homes to the Fortified standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. Carriers had to begin offering the endorsements in March 2025.
Which exclusions in Fortified endorsements violate Kentucky law?
Endorsements that exclude payment when a dwelling or other structure does not meet IBHS requirements for foundation, roof rafter framing, roof sheathing, or roof decking, and endorsements that exclude the increased cost of a more expensive roof material, exceed what KRS 304.13-346 allows.
This article summarizes reporting from insurancejournal.com.