Mississippi HB 1714 Update: Wind Mitigation Funding and Mississippi Wind Mitigation Discounts
As of February 7, 2026, Mississippi House Bill 1714 (HB 1714) has been transmitted to the Senate after passing the House. The proposal is commonly described as the “Make Mississippi Resilient and Strong Act.” If you own a home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, this matters because it connects statewide policy goals with real-world choices that can affect your roof performance, your renewal price, and your Mississippi wind mitigation discounts. In other words, this is a policy story with a practical homeowner payoff: Mississippi wind mitigation discounts are driven by what you can prove was improved.
Where HB 1714 Stands
Legislative tracking indicates HB 1714 was passed in the House on February 5, 2026 and transmitted to the Senate on February 6, 2026. The bill is not final law at this stage, but it is far enough along that homeowners should understand what it proposes and how it could intersect with Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
What HB 1714 Proposes (Plain-English Summary)
Practice shows that homeowners get value when complex legislation is translated into “what changes for me.” HB 1714 is written to establish a statewide structure focused on strengthening residential and commercial properties against severe weather, including how mitigation programs could be funded and administered.
- A new association focused on windstorm mitigation services, program delivery, and grants.
- A dedicated fund described as the “Mississippi Windstorm Mitigation Association Fund.”
- Funding mechanisms that include insurer-related fees intended to support the program.
- Updates tied to MWUA and related code sections that already shape the residual market and mitigation discussion.
The key takeaway is not to guess what the final version will look like, but to recognize the direction: Mississippi is treating mitigation as measurable risk reduction, which is the same logic behind Mississippi wind mitigation discounts today.
How This Connects to Mississippi Wind Mitigation Discounts
Even without new legislation, Mississippi wind mitigation discounts already exist in the coastal insurance ecosystem. In the residual market, the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association (MWUA) publishes guidance on premium credits tied to IBHS FORTIFIED certifications. Those credits are one reason homeowners ask about Mississippi wind mitigation discounts when they are budgeting for a roof replacement or a storm-ready upgrade.
According to MWUA program guidance, the current MWUA premium credits for IBHS FORTIFIED certification are commonly listed as:
| IBHS FORTIFIED designation | Typical MWUA premium credit | Notes for homeowners |
|---|---|---|
| FORTIFIED Roof (formerly “Bronze”) | 20% | Often the most achievable path during a re-roof; documentation matters for Mississippi wind mitigation discounts. |
| FORTIFIED Home — Silver | 25% | Builds on roof requirements and adds opening protections; can increase Mississippi wind mitigation discounts depending on policy. |
| FORTIFIED Home — Gold | 30% | Most demanding; usually easier to plan in new construction than retrofit; still tied to Mississippi wind mitigation discounts where applicable. |
| Additional site hazard credit (when confirmed) | +5% | MWUA guidance references an additional credit when site hazard inspection requirements are confirmed complete. |
Some state-facing consumer guidance also summarizes MWUA mitigation discounts, and you may see slightly different figures depending on the program description and the certificate type being referenced. The safest approach is to treat published discounts as directional and confirm the exact credit with your carrier or MWUA at renewal time, especially if you are counting on Mississippi wind mitigation discounts to offset upgrade costs. That said, the core point remains: documented mitigation can support Mississippi wind mitigation discounts. For many households, Mississippi wind mitigation discounts start with the roof.
What To Do Now: A Homeowner Action Plan
Practice shows that the fastest way to make progress is to work backward from how insurers and evaluators verify upgrades. The list below focuses on steps that are useful regardless of how HB 1714 evolves.
- Get a roof inspection that produces usable documentation. Photos, notes on decking condition, flashing, drip edge, ventilation, and leak paths are more valuable than a “looks OK” summary when you are aiming for Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
- Ask if a FORTIFIED Roof pathway fits your home. Many homeowners pursue a FORTIFIED Roof designation during a re-roof because it concentrates on the roof system — and it is directly relevant to Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
- Fix the failure points that cause the biggest losses. Edge metal, underlayment continuity, roof-to-wall transitions, and vent details are common weak links in wind-driven rain events.
- Keep a single “renewal packet.” Store invoices, product labels, permit records (if applicable), evaluation documentation, and before/after photo sets. This is what turns “we upgraded the roof” into “we can validate the upgrade,” which supports Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
If you do those four items well, you are not only improving storm performance — you are also improving your chances of getting consistent recognition for Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
Documentation Checklist (What Insurers Usually Want)
Most frustration around Mississippi wind mitigation discounts comes from missing or unclear proof. A practical documentation set usually includes:
- Roof scope of work (tear-off, deck repair plan, fastening plan, underlayment plan, flashing plan).
- Product data (shingle or roofing system wind rating, underlayment type, edge metal details).
- Photo sequence (decking, fastening, underlayment, drip edge, penetrations, finished roof).
- Evaluator or contractor documentation when you are pursuing a certification that supports Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
That checklist keeps the conversation objective: it is about what was installed and how it was verified.
FAQ
Will HB 1714 automatically lower my premium?
No. HB 1714 is a proposal, not a guarantee of immediate savings. The practical lever homeowners can control today is verified mitigation that can qualify for Mississippi wind mitigation discounts where your policy and carrier recognize them.
Do private insurers and MWUA handle discounts the same way?
Not always. MWUA publishes program guidance for its own policies, while private carriers can have different discount structures, documentation requirements, or underwriting rules. The common denominator is proof — which is why documentation is central to Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
Is a “FORTIFIED Roof” upgrade the same as “FORTIFIED Home”?
No. A FORTIFIED Roof designation focuses on the roof system, while Silver and Gold extend to additional elements like opening protection and load path. For many existing homes, starting with the roof is the most practical step tied to Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
What if I’m renewing soon and don’t have time for a full upgrade?
Start with an inspection and a repair plan that targets the highest-risk weaknesses. Even small, well-documented improvements can reduce leak risk and help you plan for larger steps that may qualify for Mississippi wind mitigation discounts.
Need a Storm-Ready Roof Plan?
Southern Home Improvement Center (SHIC) serves Southeast Louisiana and select Mississippi Gulf Coast communities. If you want a clear, documented path toward roof upgrades that may support Mississippi wind mitigation discounts, call (228) 467-7484 (Mississippi Gulf Coast), (985) 643-6611 (Slidell / Northshore), or (225) 766-4244 (Baton Rouge) to request a free estimate.
