On November 13, 2026, the Oklahoma Insurance Department announced that State Farm Fire and Casualty Company had agreed to a settlement totaling more than $45 million after a market conduct examination of the company’s handling of Oklahoma homeowners’ claims for wind and hail damage to roofs.

This is an Oklahoma action. It does not reopen Ohio claims or create a similar review program here. It does show a state regulator examining closed roof claims, putting independent engineers in the field, and requiring an independent review of eligible files. For Ohio homeowners told a wind or hail claim is closed or denied, that is worth understanding.

This article is general information, not legal advice.

What the Department announced

The Department’s settlement information page describes a $47.86 million settlement. That total is the sum of the three amounts in the official press release and the signed Settlement Agreement (Case Nos. 22-0423-EXM and 26-1372-DIS): a minimum of $35 million for consumer restitution, $10 million for Oklahoma’s Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant program, and $2.86 million in fines and examination expenses payable to the Department. The press release itself calls the agreement “more than $45 million” and then lists those same components; it does not print the $47.86 million sum.

The release says the examination found that State Farm “improperly denied or failed to pay for roof damage and necessary repairs” on claims by Oklahoma homeowners who had bought coverage to protect their homes. In the November 10, 2026 order adopting the examination report (Case No. 22-0423-EXM), the Commissioner found violations of Oklahoma’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, including failures in some sampled files to give written denial notice and, in 22 instances from a sample of 181 claims, a failure to attempt in good faith to settle certain roofing claims in which the Department found that liability had become reasonably clear. The adopted report states that those 22 instances were among 58 roofs that were inspected; the other 123 files in the sample were given the benefit of no error.

State Farm’s response

State Farm agreed to the settlement and waived its right to appeal the order. The agreement states that State Farm “disputes the Examination Report’s findings and conclusions and denies any violation of law or wrongdoing,” and that the parties resolved the matter without a finding of liability or an admission by State Farm.

In a public statement, the company said it “disagrees with findings and characterizations in the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s market conduct examination report” and that “a limited review of individual claims should not be mistaken for a complete picture of our overall claims-handling practices.” The same statement says State Farm remained in Oklahoma, while other insurers reduced coverage or left, despite “more than $178.5 million in net underwriting losses from 2021 through 2025 and more than half a billion dollars over the past 20 years,” figures that are State Farm’s own.

Independent engineers, and an independent review

In the official release, Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready said:

“We weren’t willing to simply take State Farm’s word for how these claims were handled. We took action that no other state has done in a traditional examination, putting independent engineers in the field to inspect roofs and help determine whether claims were handled appropriately. That extraordinary effort took significant time and resources, but the results matter: A minimum of $35 million is being set aside to help consumers who may have been wrongfully denied payment, and eligible homeowners will have another opportunity to have their claims reviewed.”

The settlement also requires an independent third-party claims administrator, mutually selected by the Department and State Farm, to review each eligible claim file and any additional documentation the policyholder submits. If the administrator determines that a claim qualifies for payment, State Farm is to pay it according to the insured’s policy. If more money is needed, the Department and State Farm are to agree on an additional amount. A review is not a payment. The Department’s consumer page states that payment is not guaranteed.

Who can use the Oklahoma review — and who cannot

According to the Department, you may be eligible if you had a State Farm homeowners policy in Oklahoma, submitted a wind or hail claim with a date of loss between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025, and the claim was closed without payment. The Department says that includes partial payment or a below-deductible determination.

State Farm will send written notices, approved by the Department, explaining how to opt in. The Department’s release says State Farm will set up the reopening process at its own expense. The settlement allows reasonable administrator costs to be paid from the $35 million escrow, with a replenishment mechanism. Under the settlement, those initial notices are to go out before December 31, 2026. Check official outreach at www.oid.ok.gov/state-farm-settlement/. Ohio homeowners are not part of this program unless they had an Oklahoma State Farm policy and an eligible Oklahoma claim.

What Ohio homeowners can take from it

Oklahoma’s regulator examined how one carrier handled wind and hail roof claims. In this case, independent engineers inspected roofs as part of that work, and eligible closed or unpaid claims can be reviewed by an independent third party. A first denial or a “closed without payment” letter is not always the last word.

If you have an Ohio wind, hail, or other property claim that was denied, closed, or paid short of the repair, keep the denial or closing letter, the policy, dated photos taken before repairs hide the evidence, and any estimates or inspection reports. Keathley Claims Consultants can review that file at no charge. Call (419) 504-1601, or start at www.keathleyclaims.com. We are at 155 N Main Street, Wellington, OH 44090.

Sources

OID press release, November 13, 2026: www.oid.ok.gov/111226/
OID settlement information: www.oid.ok.gov/state-farm-settlement/
Order Adopting Report of Examination, Case No. 22-0423-EXM: OID PDF
Settlement Agreement, Case Nos. 22-0423-EXM and 26-1372-DIS: OID PDF
State Farm statement: newsroom.statefarm.com

This is general information, not legal advice.

We’re licensed Ohio public adjusters (License #1367111). We’re not attorneys or a law firm.

What Oklahoma’s State Farm Roof-Claim Settlement Means for Ohio Homeowners