N.Y.: Governor vetoes wrongful death bill: What agents need to know 

When Gov. Kathy Hochul called for action on A.6063/S.4423—legislation that would have amended New York state’s wrongful-death statute significantly—PIANY members immediately mobilized. While well-intentioned, the bill posed serious concerns for consumers, businesses and the insurance marketplace.  

Thanks to the swift response from independent agents across the state, the governor clearly heard those concerns and vetoed A.6063/S.4423 late last week. So, what would this legislation have changed, and why did it matter to independent insurance agents? 

What the bill proposed 

The state’s current wrongful-death law allows recovery for pecuniary (financial) losses. The proposed legislation would have expanded recoverable damages to include: 

• grief and emotional anguish; 

• loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, guidance and consortium; 

• additional categories of “close family members” able to sue; and 

• a longer statute of limitations for filing claims. 

These changes would have represented one of the most sweeping expansions of wrongful death in decades. 

Why the veto matters to independent agents 

For agents on the front lines of client communication, the bill raised substantial industry concerns, including: 

Potential for significant premium increases. Expanding damages to include emotional loss—open-ended and difficult to quantify—could have increased claim severity across multiple lines, especially medical malpractice, general liability and auto liability. Agents could have faced increasingly difficult conversations with clients as premiums rose. 

Pressure on already-strained markets. Many commercial and personal lines in New York state already are navigating rate pressure, loss-cost volatility and carrier appetite changes. A major expansion of liability exposure risked further tightening markets and reducing availability for consumers. 

Financial strain on health care systems and small businesses. Hospitals, nonprofits, municipalities and small businesses have expressed concern about the affordability of liability coverage under the bill’s proposed framework. 

Gov. Hochul reflected these concerns in her veto message, noting that while the intent of the bill is compassionate, its economic impact on New Yorkers had not been fully addressed. She emphasized that the legislation could have widespread financial consequences for consumers and essential services across the state. 

What the veto means going forward 

For now, New York’s wrongful-death statute remains unchanged, maintaining the existing liability environment. This provides agents and policyholders with some stability while legislators, stakeholders and industry experts continue to evaluate potential future reforms. 

Although the governor signaled openness to a more measured update to the wrongful-death law, the conversation will continue into the next legislative session. Independent agents—who see firsthand how premiums affect families and businesses—will remain an important resource for lawmakers seeking balanced, workable solutions. 

PIANY members play a role 

PIANY extends a sincere thank-you to our members who responded quickly to the association’s advocacy alert and contacted the governor’s office. Your outreach helped highlight the practical impacts this bill could have on policyholders and the marketplace. 

Independent agents play a vital role in ensuring policymakers understand what legislation means for real people. Your participation made that possible, and we appreciate your willingness to act on short notice. 

PIANY will continue sharing updates as discussions around wrongful-death reform continue, and we remain grateful for your engagement and support.