The Senate approved a committee substitute to expand a mitigation program aimed at strengthening residential structures against wind and storm damage and reducing reliance on the state wind pool.

Sponsors said the revised program — the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program — would continue a prior program and broaden its scope to include tornado and wind damage, not just hurricanes. The measure would allocate additional fee revenue from an increase in a business licensing fee paid by insurance companies (from $25 to $50); the incremental $25 is proposed to be deposited into a new mitigation fund while the original $25 would continue to go to the general fund.

Under the committee substitute, the mitigation fund will seed grants of up to $15,000 per property for retrofits such as roof deck fastening, screw-down decking, improved storm windows or shutters and other measures that reduce structural vulnerability. The sponsor said the fund could support roughly 1,000 homes a year at the estimated revenue level (about $18 million annually) and that leftover funds above a $15 million threshold in a year would revert to the general fund.

Senator McClendon and others asked whether the program would cover commercial properties; the sponsor said priority would be residential homeowners and the intent is to focus on homes. Lawmakers also discussed program reach, the potential premium reductions for homeowners who retrofit, and whether the commissioner’s implementation would limit funds to priority coastal areas first.

The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was brought forward for final passage by morning roll call.

Why it matters: strengthening homes can reduce insurance claims, potentially lower premiums and shrink the exposure of the state-backed wind pool; implementation will require administrative rules and coordination with insurers to produce premium credits for retrofits.

Speakers: committee sponsor (committee chair/sponsor), Senator McClendon (question), Senator England (questions), insurance commissioner referenced.