Dispute centers on long-awaited review of insurers’ roof-claim handling practices
OKLAHOMA CITY — Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Monday demanded that Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready release a long-awaited examination of insurance companies’ roof-claim handling practices by Friday, while Mulready responded that the independent regulatory review remains unfinished and will not be rushed to meet what he called a political timeline.
The dispute centers on a market conduct examination the Oklahoma Insurance Department launched following concerns about insurers’ handling of residential roof claims. In December, the department said it expected the investigation to conclude during the first quarter of 2026 and that any resulting regulatory action would become public. The examination has not yet been completed, according to the department.
In a letter to Mulready, Drummond argued Oklahoma homeowners have waited long enough for answers.
“Oklahomans deserve answers, not excuses,” Drummond said in a news release announcing the letter. “The Insurance Commissioner made a promise and, once again, broke it, and every month of delay is a month insurance companies collect record high premiums.”
Drummond requested that Mulready publicly release the examination report, investigative findings and supporting workpapers by July 31.
In his letter, the attorney general argued Oklahoma law permits the commissioner to make the report public after an initial confidentiality period and cited another provision that allows disclosure to state law enforcement officials. He contended homeowners should be able to learn what regulators have found about insurers’ handling of roof claims.
Mulready rejected the demand, saying the department would not compromise the integrity of the regulatory process.
“I will not allow the Oklahoma Insurance Department to be bullied into cutting corners on a regulatory process simply because it fits someone else’s political timeline,” Mulready said in a statement provided to Oklahoma Politics Today.
He said the market conduct examination remains ongoing and is being conducted by an independent examiner. “This market conduct examination is ongoing, and my top priority is ensuring that we have built the strongest case possible for the protection of consumers,” Mulready said. “We will release the findings when the examination is complete and submitted to OID by the independent examiner.”
Broader insurance dispute
The latest exchange is part of a broader disagreement between the two statewide elected officials over Oklahoma’s homeowners insurance market.
Drummond has repeatedly criticized rising homeowners insurance premiums and has filed lawsuits against State Farm and Allstate, alleging the companies engaged in improper claims-handling practices. Mulready has maintained that Oklahoma’s homeowners insurance market remains competitive while pursuing a separate regulatory review of insurers’ market conduct.
The attorney general also criticized the timing of a public hearing on competition in the homeowners insurance market, saying it has been delayed while homeowners continue to face rising premiums.
Mulready said the hearing is intended to assist an administrative hearing officer in reviewing evidence and issuing findings for future rate filings. He also reiterated his position that Oklahoma’s homeowners insurance market remains competitive under commonly used regulatory measures.
Timing remains at the center of dispute
The two officials disagree over both the status of the examination and the timing of its release.
Drummond argues the Insurance Department has delayed long enough and that Oklahoma law allows the report to be released now. Mulready maintains the independent examination remains incomplete and says releasing information before the process concludes would undermine the integrity of the investigation.
