Ohio lags behind. This is not a phrase that we like to hear as Ohioans. While the upcoming hurricane season doesn’t directly affect Ohio, we experience the fall-out from coastal states, on top of year-round storms, increasing storm activity locally. Unfortunately, when it comes to combating storm scammers, we lag behind many other states. This brings up a key question: will we continue to allow roofing scammers to prey on the elderly and vulnerable in our state? We know that independent agents and reputable contractors are there for their clients in the aftermath of a storm and provide key support. However, after a major weather event individuals are susceptible and more vulnerable to bad actors disguised as a helpful hand. Enough is enough; OIA is ready to work with industry partners and leaders in the Statehouse to enact legislation to protect Ohioans from nefarious roofing practices.  

The Ohio Department of Insurance issued a press release on April 4, 2025, providing consumers with storm recovery tips and warning homeowners about contractor fraud after a major storm. The agency warned against allowing contractors to come to your home unsolicited and offering to do work on the home while actively seeking your insurance information with the intent to submit claims on your behalf. ODI also advised consumers to not allow contractors to inspect your property unsupervised and to avoid rushing into signing any documentation without thorough review. 

Unfortunately, in the aftermath of a major storm event, it is not uncommon to see signs pop up advertising “free roof repair” or assurances that “Insurance Will Pay for Your Roof”. Following the frenzy of these deceptive advertisements many unsuspecting homeowners are approached by unscrupulous roofers who coerce them into making rash decisions. These contractors often collect an initial payment and then either disappear or perform substandard repairs, leaving homeowners with financial losses.  

This issue is not unique to Ohio; storm scammers have wreaked havoc across the country. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, post-disaster fraud cost roughly $9.3 Billion nationwide in 2023. Recognizing the widespread nature of this problem, many states have taken steps to address deceptive storm-chasing roofers.  

According to the Journal of Light Construction, 15 states enacted laws to crack down on storm scammers within an 18 month period between late 2011 and early 2013. States including Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana were among those that adopted new regulations during that time. The specifics of these laws varied, but many states adopted language based off National Council of Insurance Legislator (NCOIL) guidelines. These guidelines included: requiring written contracts for roof repair, three-day contract recission periods, and not allowing a contractor to advertise, promise to pay, or rebate any portion of any insurance deductible as an inducement to the sale of goods or services.  

Legislative efforts to combat storm scammers have been previously attempted in Ohio to no avail. In 2023, Ohio Senator George Lang introduced Senate Bill 77 in an attempt to work on this issue. Senator Lang introduced the bill with language modeled off NCOIL guidelines and in the spirit of similar legislation passed in surrounding states.  

Senate Bill 77 included many key provisions:  

• The legislation required that all roofing contracts above $750 be in writing and include key information such as the contractor’s insurance coverage and an itemized description of work to be done. 

• SB 77 provided a three-day “cooling off” period that would allow a consumer to have three business days to back out of a signed contract. 

• The bill prohibited advertising, promising to pay, or rebating any portion of an insurance deductible as an inducement to the sale of goods or services.   

• SB 77 established that a contractor’s failure to comply with the bill constituted as a deceptive act or practice in connection with a consumer transaction under Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act.   

Senate Bill 77 would have protected consumers in a meaningful way and provided a mechanism for stronger enforcement to limit bad actors. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 77 did not gain real traction last General Assembly and was not passed out of Committee.  

OIA Government Affairs actively supports introduction of similar legislation this General Assembly. We will continue to work with industry partners to advocate for legislation that protects consumers from unscrupulous roofers. Please contact George Christy, OIA’s Government Affairs Manager, at george@ohioinsuranceagents.com if you would like to discuss this issue or any advocacy issues.

Sources:

The Journal of Light Construction  

NCOIL Storm Chaser Model Legislation 

News Release: Storm Recovery Insurance Tips for Ohioans   

National Insurance Crime Bureau Article 

About the Author:

George Christy joined the Ohio Insurance Agents (OIA) as the new Government Affairs Manager in January 2025. George brings experience from his previous roles at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). At ODOT, he was part of the communications team, and he worked on legislative and regulatory issues with the Legislative Affairs team. George brings experience from his work on state legislative campaigns, his time as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, and his roles at a state agency. George grew up in Delaware County and is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he studied Political Science and Economics.