Read the full stored bill text
HB424 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB424
9JDVKMP-1
By Representative Ellis
RFD: Insurance
First Read: 10-Feb-26
1
2
3
4
5
9JDVKMP-1 02/02/2026 KMS (L)ma 2026-621
Page 1
First Read: 10-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would create the Office of Risk and
Resilience within the Department of Insurance and would
provide for the Strengthen Alabama Homes Program to be
housed within the office.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Department of Insurance; to create the
Office of Risk and Resilience within the department; and to
amend Section 27-31E-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that
the Strengthen Alabama Homes Program is housed within the
office.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) There is created within the Department
of Insurance the Office of Risk and Resilience. The office
shall develop and implement risk controls to help promote and
sustain a healthy insurance market in the state and shall work
to solve issues of risk and resilience facing the insurance
market.
(b) The Commissioner of Insurance, in conformance with
Section 36-26-10, Code of Alabama 1975, may employ personnel
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
HB424 INTRODUCED
Page 2
Section 36-26-10, Code of Alabama 1975, may employ personnel
to operate the office including one employee who is in the
exempt service and not subject to the state Merit System. This
position is in addition to any other exempt position otherwise
authorized by law for the department. The compensation of this
employee shall be set by the commissioner.
Section 2. Section 27-31E-2 of the Code of Alabama
1975, is amended to read as follows:
"§27-31E-2
(a) There is established within the Office of Risk and
Resilience of the Department of Insurance, the Strengthen
Alabama Homes Program.
(b) There is established the Strengthen Alabama Homes
Fund within the State Treasury for the use of the department
to administer the program.
(c) This chapter does not create an entitlement for
property owners or obligate the state in any way to fund the
inspection or retrofitting of residential property in this
state. Implementation of this program is subject to annual
legislative appropriations, receipt of federal grants or
funds, or receipt of other sources of grants or funds. The
department shall use its best efforts to obtain grants or
funds from the federal government or other funding sources to
supplement the financial resources of the program that may be
provided by the state.
(d) Monies in the program shall be deposited in the
Strengthen Alabama Homes Fund. Monies shall not lapse, unless
otherwise specified under federal funding or a federal grant,
or a grant or funds from another source, or be transferred to
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
HB424 INTRODUCED
Page 3
or a grant or funds from another source, or be transferred to
the General Fund or other state funds and shall not be
redistributed. Monies shall be used for the purpose of
assisting the program in performing all acts that relate to
the function and purpose of the program.
(e) The program shall apply for financial grants to
retrofit insurable property as defined in Section 27-31D-3, to
resist loss due to hurricane, tornado, or other catastrophic
windstorm events as prescribed in subsection (b) of Section
27-31D-2 (b).
(f) The program may also make grants or funding
available to nonprofit entities for projects to retrofit an
insurable property to resist loss due to hurricane, tornado,
or other catastrophic windstorm events if such grants or
funding to nonprofit entities are allowable under grant or
funding rules, requirements, guidelines, or criteria. However,
a nonprofit entity shall agree to administer the grants or
funds as the program would be required to administer grants or
funds and the entity shall provide documentation to the
department in a timely manner as requested by the department.
(g) All mitigation shall be based upon the securing of
all required local permits and applicable inspections in
keeping with local building codes and the Fortified for
Existing Homes Program. Mitigation projects are subject to
random reinspection of all projects.
(h) The department may promulgate adopt rules and
eligibility requirements necessary for the proper
administration of this chapter and pursuant to any
instructions or requirements on grants or funds funding
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
HB424 INTRODUCED
Page 4
instructions or requirements on grants or funds funding
received by the program."
Section 3. This act shall become effective on June 1,
2026.
85
86
87