News
The 2025 PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference at Atlantic City: a chart-topping success!
With some 1,700 of insurance professionals in attendance, this year’s PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City was a hit. There were informative education sessions and workshops, new innovations at the trade show and connections with fresh faces and old friends. PIA National President Ariel Rivera and Motivational Speaker Kelly Swanson both addressed the attendees. The NJYIP held its 41st Annual 5K Fun Run to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey. PIA extends a thanks to everyone who attended: We hope to see you again next year—save the date June 7-9, 2026! For a full write-up of this year’s event, including photos, check for the article on PIA Northeast News & Media, and in the July/August issue of PIA Magazine. For the photos of the trade show, click here.
AM Best: California wildfires drive up p/c underwriting losses
A new AM Best report, titled First Look: Three-Month 2025 US Property/Casualty Financial Results, revealed that the United States property/casualty industry recorded a $1.1 billion net underwriting loss in the first three months of 2025. This is down from a $9.4 billion gain recorded in the same prior-year period, driven largely by losses attributable to the January wildfires in California. The report found the catastrophe losses accounted for an estimated 14.7 percentage points on the p/c industry’s three-month 2025 combined ratio, up sharply from 5.4 points in the prior year’s first quarter. The combined ratio deteriorated to 99.4 from 94.4 in the first three months of 2023.
Erie Insurance hit by major network outage
The Erie Insurance Group experienced a major network outage on June 8, 2025. This outage is “affecting all systems” and is preventing customers from accessing their online accounts and other customer services. At the time of this writing, Erie Insurance still is working to resolve the network outage, with no timeline of when it will be resolved. The insurance company has not disclosed the cause for the outage.
Conn.: Climate mitigation bill passes General Assembly
Both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly have approved H.B.5004, an act that contains a package of initiatives aimed at protecting the environment, including by taking steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and also to encourage the growth of the clean energy economy and green jobs. The bill now moves to Connecticut’s Legislative Commissioners’ Office for engrossing and supervision of printing in its final form.
PIANJ elects president, officers for 2025-26
PIANJ elected Roger Butler, CIC, as president of PIANJ at the association’s annual business meeting at the PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference at The Hard Rock in Atlantic City, N.J. Butler is vice president of the Barclay Group in Riverton, N.J. The association also elected a full slate of officers during its Annual Business Meeting. Aaron Levine, CIC, will serve as president-elect; Lisa Hamm, CIC, and Michael Beckerman, CPCU, will serve as vice presidents; Christopher Powell will serve as secretary/treasurer; and Andrew Harris Jr., CIC, AAI, CISR, will serve as immediate past president.
NJYIP elects officers and board of directors
Also at the Annual Conference, NJYIP elected its officers and board of directors. Timothy Latimer will serve as president; Michael S. DeStasio will serve as first vice president; Walter Conroy will serve as second vice president; Shanna Muscavage will serve as treasurer; Josh McManigal will serve as secretary; and Peter Leone will serve as immediate past president. Elected to serve on the NJYIP board of directors, with terms expiring in 2027 are: Lila Khiry Cirillo, Walter Conroy, Amanda Gallo, Tim Latimer, Jake McCaughan, Josh McManigal, Shanna Muscavage, Lauren Scott and Tiffany Cospito.
Compliance
NHID bulletin addresses fraudulent producer practices
The New Hampshire Insurance Department has issued a new bulletin in response to a rise in consumer complaints concerning insurance enrollments misrepresented by insurance producers. The department has found multiple instances in which the producer listed as the “producer of record” on an insurance application had no actual contact with the consumer, and who played no role in the sale of the policy. In particular, the NHID has identified improper use of the National Producer Number override function on Enhanced Direct Enrollment platforms. Under RSA 402-J:12, I(h), a producer who falsely designates themselves as the producer of record, or who misuses the NPN override function, may face serious administrative penalties. These include fines, license suspension or license revocation.
Advocacy
N.Y.: Anti-arson repeal bill passes state Senate
The New York state Senate has passed S.4157—a bill that would repeal the longstanding anti-arson application requirement for property insurance in New York City. This legislation would eliminate Section 3403 of the Insurance Law, which mandates that property owners in New York City submit an annual anti-arson form to maintain fire or explosion insurance. Enacted in the late 1970s to combat arson-for-profit schemes, the requirement has become obsolete in light of modern fraud detection tools and procedures introduced in the mid-1990s.
N.Y. State Assembly unanimously passes CE carryover bill
The state Assembly unanimously passed a long-awaited bill, A.6652A/S.6122A, that would allow licensed insurance producers to carry over excess continuing-education credits into their next licensing cycle. Under current law, producers must complete 15 CE credit hours every two years, but any credits earned beyond that threshold are forfeited. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, garnering a resounding 140-0 vote. All eyes are on the Senate to pass its companion bill with only days left in the 2025 legislation session.
Technical
Homeowners insurance and the elderly
There is a growing phenomenon in the insurance industry in which people are paying for homeowners insurance on their parents’ homes, long after the parents have changed residences or passed. While this is a kind gesture and maintains the safety of the house, it’s a major claim denial waiting to spring up on the payer since the named insured is no longer in their residence premises—the homeowners policy ceases to apply. How do independent agents navigate through this all-too-common scenario? For more information, PIA members can access Homeowners options for the elderly in the QuickSource library.
NFIP program changes effective in October
The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued Memorandum W-25003 to provide notification of upcoming National Flood Insurance Program changes and guidance updates to the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual that FEMA will implement for policies effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
Accolades
Conn./N.J./N.Y.: Deadline extended for $2,500 charity grants
Want to make a difference for a local charity in your community? PIA is working with the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation to let agencies know that the IICF is offering a variety of grants—worth $2,500 each—to worthy charities in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. For the charity to receive one of the grants, it must be sponsored by an insurance entity—at no cost to you. Ask the charity you are sponsoring to complete an application. The deadline for application has been extended: submit your application by Friday, June 27, 2025, at 5 p.m.
PIANJ honors professionals with Awards of Distinction
PIANJ honored four insurance professionals at its annual conference, held earlier this week. Mandy Adam Moreland, AIS, AU, CPIA, was honored with the Professional Agent of the Year award for her dedication to excellence and achievement in insurance marketing and service. Tim Byrne Sr., received the Company Person of the Year award for his ability to foster strong working relationships with agents and brokers. Steve Tague, CPIA, who recently retired and had served PIANJ for more than 20 years, was bestowed with the Distinguished Insurance Service award for his history of significant contributions and support to the regional insurance community. Christopher Powell was presented with the Director of the Year award for his hard work and dedication to PIANJ’s board of directors, and for his contributions to help support the association and its many programs.
Educating insurance agents
Evaluate your p/c lines knowledge
Sharpen your personal and commercial lines knowledge by putting it to use in, Insurance Quiz–Testing Your Personal and Commercial Lines Knowledge. This webinar, which will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, from 1-4 p.m., will be taught by Steven D. Lyon, CPCU, CIC, CRM, CRIS, AAI, ARM, AIS, MLIS, AFIS. It will provide an overview of the most commonly used ISO forms and endorsements, shed new light on coverages and exclusions missed by even the most experienced insurance professionals, and will use real-world claims situation to reinforce your knowledge. This class has been approved for CE credits in Connecticut (3 PC), New Jersey (3 GEN), New York (2 BR, C3, PA, PC) and Vermont (3 General).
Register now
Tuesday, June 17, 2025: CTYIP Golf Open
Limited golf spots available—lunch seats still open
Tuesday, June 17, 2025: PIWA Spring Reception
Tuesday, June 24, 2025: Emerging Leader Series—Social Styles: Components of Communication
Thursday, July 24, 2025: NJYIP Summer Breeze Bash
Monday, Aug. 11, 2025: NY-YIP Annual Golf Open—Call for nominations
Save the date
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025: NY-YIP Albany Fall Soiree
Monday, Sept. 29, 2025: PIANJ Golf Classic
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025: NJYIP Holiday Reception
