OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Jenks, today responded to a recent article about Oklahoma’s rising property insurance premiums, citing the state’s frequent severe weather and ongoing legislative efforts to support homeowners.

“Oklahoma faces some of the most destructive and unpredictable weather in the country,” Tedford said. “From widespread hailstorms to wildfires and tornadoes, our events are frequent, damaging and often hit densely populated areas. Claims drive premiums, and storms like the ones we saw in Sulphur, Barnsdall, Holdenville and Claremore last year, along with March's wildfires, cost billions in damages. That’s the reality insurers are responding to.” 

He said insurance premiums are also affected by inflation in construction costs, the rising price of materials and labor and the increasing number of high-value claims following back-to-back disasters. 

Tedford noted that while many states are now seeing rate increases, Oklahoma’s market adjusted earlier than most.

“Oklahoma ranked 35th last year for average rate hikes,” he said. “It’s not the worst in the nation. It’s a sign our market responded early while others are still catching up. I commend the work Commissioner Mulready is doing to improve Oklahoma's Insurance industry.” 

Last year, Tedford authored House Bill 3089 to create the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act, a grant program to help homeowners retrofit their homes with weather-resistant materials. He also worked with the insurance commissioner on House Bills 3092, 3093 and 3095 to prevent insurers from canceling policies due to older or single claims.

He introduced House Bills this year, including House Bill 1084, focused on reducing claim costs and curbing insurance fraud. Tedford cautioned against overregulation, pointing to other states where stricter policies led insurers to exit the market. 

“When states overregulate, insurers leave,” he said. “That’s what happened in California, and it left homeowners without options. We don’t want that in Oklahoma. We can’t change the weather, but we can pursue smart, targeted policies that support homeowners and keep the insurance market strong.”