The 2023 New York legislative session was a successful one for independent insurance agents. In 2023, PIANY saw not one, but two, of the association’s top priorities pass the Legislature! The advocacy of insurance agents, like yourself, has been critical in getting the legislation to where it is today. And, where is it today? Awaiting action from Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor has until the end of the year to take action. But who wants to wait that long? PIA is asking you to contact the governor to let her know of the importance of signing S.5889 and S.5764-B into law. Learn more about these priorities and how you can help in just 30 seconds.
Photo inspection
PIANY’s top legislative priority for the 2023 legislative year was passage of legislation that would make important reforms to New York state’s outdated photo inspection law (S.5889). This bill, sponsored by Sen. Neil Breslin, D-44, would allow insurance companies to file a waiver with the New York State Department of Financial Services to allow them to waive photo inspections for all or some of the personal automobiles they insure. The bill passed the Legislature in the spring. Now we need the governor to take action and sign the bill!
Learn more about photo inspections at PIA Northeast News & Media.
Bait and switch
Another top PIANY legislative priority for 2023 was enactment of legislation that would require that insurance companies attempt to verify a driver’s driving history prior to binding a personal automobile insurance policy. That legislation S.5764-B passed the New York state Legislature at the very end of the legislative session.
This bill, also sponsored by Sen. Neil Breslin, D-44, would address the harmful bait-and-switch practices by requiring insurance companies to make a good-faith attempt to verify a driver’s driving history before binding and accepting down payment on a personal automobile insurance policy.
Learn more about bait and switch at PIA Northeast News & Media.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq., joined PIA as government affairs counsel for the Government & Industry Affairs Department in 2012 and then, after a four-month leave, he returned to the association in 2018 as director of government & industry affairs responsible for all legal, government relations and insurance industry liaison programs for the five state associations. Prior to PIA, Brad worked as an attorney for Steven J. Baum PC, in Amherst, and as an associate attorney for the law office of James Morris in Buffalo. He also spent time serving as senior manager of government affairs as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, a chamber of commerce serving the Buffalo, N.Y., region, his hometown. He received his juris doctorate from Buffalo Law School and his Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics from Utica College, Utica, N.Y. Brad is an active Mason and Shriner.
