Roofing industry coalition defeats Mississippi attempt to ban low-slope roofing on public buildings

Coalition unites to protect roofing diversity and to defend sound building science.

A broad coalition of roofing industry organizations has successfully defeated Mississippi House Bill 1730, legislation that would have imposed a mandatory minimum 3:12 roof slope on all new public buildings constructed in the state.  

The measure, which passed the Mississippi House of Representatives before stalling in the state Senate, would have effectively prohibited low-slope roofing systems on public construction projects and eliminated proven, cost-effective roofing solutions used on schools, hospitals, government buildings and other public facilities nationwide. 

"This outcome proves the power of a united industry speaking with one voice," said Ellen Thorp, CAE, president and managing director of Coalition for Sustainable Roofing (COSUR). "Low-slope roofing systems have a decades-long track record of performance on public buildings. This legislation was well-intentioned but based on a fundamental misunderstanding of building science, and we're grateful the Mississippi Senate recognized that." 

"Low-slope roofing systems are a staple of commercial and public construction in Mississippi," said Christee Roberson, owner and president of Graham Roofing, Inc. in West Point, Mississippi. "This bill would have tied the hands of architects, building owners and contractors, and driven up costs for taxpayers in the process. We're glad the industry mobilized quickly and effectively to make sure that didn't happen." 

The Coalition for Sustainable Roofing (COSUR) led the advocacy effort, working in close coordination with the EPDM Roofing Association (ERA), the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA), the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI), the Mississippi Roofing Contractors Association and approximately a dozen additional roofing-related organizations and industry partners. 

About Coalition for Sustainable Roofing

COSUR (Coalition for Sustainable Roofing) is an advocacy coalition representing leading U.S. roofing manufacturers committed to holistic roof system design and sustainable roofing assemblies. The coalition advocates for informed, system-level decisions and opposes overly restrictive policies not supported by local, real-world performance and field-verified outcomes.