The RIA’s Participation NCOIL Storm Chaser Model Legislation
The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) is a national, nonpartisan organization composed of state legislators who chair or serve on insurance and financial services committees in their respective states. NCOIL’s mission is to develop model laws, educate policymakers, and promote sound public policy that strengthens state-based insurance regulation. At its annual meeting, legislators, regulators, industry stakeholders, and subject-matter experts come together to review, debate, amend, and vote on model legislation that often becomes the foundation for state insurance laws nationwide. The annual meeting is where major policy decisions are shaped, stakeholder input is heard, and the future direction of insurance-related public policy is set.
Standing Strong for Restorers: RIA’s Impact at the 2025 NCOIL Meeting
Every once in a while, an entire industry gets a moment, a moment where its voice is either heard or ignored, where the future is shaped with clarity or decided without the people who live the work every day. For the restoration industry, that moment came at last month’s National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
And because of you, our members, the RIA was there.
And because RIA was there, the outcome changed.
A Model Decade in the Making
The Storm Chaser Consumer Protection Act model legislation hadn’t been substantively updated since its inception in 2015. In the past year, legislators began expanding the model dramatically to include tree trimmers, waterproofing companies, mold companies, fire, water, and natural disaster emergency restoration contractors, and nearly every type of emergency-service provider.
The intent was noble - to protect consumers. But the potential impact? Catastrophic, if crafted without the input of the very professionals who show up at 2 a.m., in storms, fires, floods, and crises, to stabilize homes and protect lives. This was no small bill. This was a national model that states adopt, copy, or use as the framework for their own laws. The RIA simply could not let the future of emergency restoration work be shaped without the people who perform it.
A Seat at the Table—Earned and Used Well
For three intense days, the RIA worked alongside Senator Larry Walker (GA), the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, NAMIC, APCIA, and NCOIL leadership, drafting, debating, revising, and reshaping the model legislation.
Every session. Every working group. Every clause that would affect restorers and property owners nationwide.
And because the RIA was at the table, we secured three major industry-shaping wins:
1. Emergency services remain protected—not restricted.
The RIA ensured that nothing in the new model could slow or obstruct rapid emergency response. Legislators now clearly recognize that stabilizing a property after a disaster is not elective construction—it’s essential, life-safety work.
2. Restorers are distinguished from “contractors”.
The RIA ensured that it is understood that restorers are a required critical service that has its own well-established business practices. When a restorer arrives, we take immediate action. This protects your reputation, your business, and the trust of the communities you serve.
3. Reasonable compensation is preserved for emergency work.
The RIA secured language ensuring restorers are entitled to payment for acknowledged emergency services—even when insurance claims are later denied. This is a meaningful win for fairness, consumer protection, and financial sustainability.
These victories weren’t luck. They were the result of preparation, credibility, expertise—and the support of the RIA’s membership.
Why This Matters for Every RIA Member
If the RIA had not been present, the model might have:
- Delayed or restricted emergency services
- Increased liability and uncompensated work for contractors
- Jeopardized consumer safety and property protection
- Codified language is harmful to legitimate restoration businesses
Instead, the RIA ensured that:
- Your work is respected
- Your professionalism is recognized
- Your business remains protected
- Your customers remain safeguarded
Legislators listened because the restoration industry showed up united, informed, and prepared.
A Proud Moment for Our Industry
This wasn’t just a legislative meeting. This was a milestone. A moment where restoration professionals shaped national policy, rather than reacting to it. A moment where the RIA demonstrated the power of collective advocacy and the strength of our member-driven mission. A moment where we ensured the restoration industry’s story was told accurately, respectfully, and powerfully.
And we did it together.
Thank You to Our Members
Your dues, your involvement, your trust, and your commitment made this possible. This is exactly what an association should deliver:
- A voice where it matters
- Protection where it counts
- Leadership when it’s needed most
RIA acted on your behalf—and the results speak for themselves. We are proud of this work. We are proud of this industry.
And you should be proud too.