Weekly Dispatch: Feb. 19, 2026

3013-D-2024-Dispatch_Banners-795×448-24-8

February 19, 2026

News

DHS funding lapse impacts FEMA, other umbrella agencies

On Feb. 15, a partial government shutdown began because funding for the Department of Homeland Security was allowed to lapse. The shutdown of DHS impacts agencies under its umbrella, which includes the Transportation Security Administration, the Secret Service, the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is unknown when funding will be restored to the DHS and FEMA. Congress is on recess until Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, and the dispute stems from intractable differences over Immigrations and Custom Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol oversight. Both agencies are overseen by DHS.

Fitch Ratings: AVs to have near-term, modest credit impact

Fitch Ratings has predicted that autonomous vehicles will have a “modest credit impact” on auto insurers over the next decade. Senior Director of Fitch Gerry Glombicki noted that it will take considerable time for AVs to be adopted based on “high costs, regulatory fragmentation and consumer preferences” and the 13-year lifespan of most U.S. vehicles. However, in the long term, it is expected that AVs will change the shape of auto insurance markets in the long term.

N.H.: BEA gets new commissioner in Lucy Lange

Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the state’s executive council confirmed Lucy Lange as New Hampshire’s next commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. The BEA provides resources for businesses considering expansion or relocation in the state. Lange had 20 years of experience in business and marketing, and she serves as the president of Manchester Media Group.

N.Y. Part BB of TED budget proposal could change disclosure requirements for agents

PIANY’s overview of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation budget proposals found that Part BB could carry significant changes for independent insurance agents. Part BB would require insurers writing personal auto and homeowners insurance to clearly disclose premium increases at renewal, specifically is the policy premium increases by more than 10%.

Advocacy

SAFE Exit Act advances through committee, targeting unsafe car doors

The Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act of 2026 was considered by the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade during a markup of motor vehicle safety bills. This bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Il., last month over concerns of electric vehicle doors trapping people in their own cars, citing 15 deaths caused by Tesla doors not opening.

Technical

How agents can best navigate the hard market

Hard market conditions are still present across the insurance industry. Agents are reporting increased premiums, reduced capacity, stricter underwriting and more. How can agents best navigate the complications that come with the hard market cycle? For more information and strategies, PIA Northeast members can access Best practices when navigating a hard market in the QuickSource library. For more information about navigating the hard market, log on to PIA Northeast News & Media, and click the Hard Market tag.

Educating insurance agents

CPIA 2: Strengthen conversations with commercial customers

Continue to work toward your Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation in the second course of a three-part webinar series, 2026-2027 CISR 2IC: Insuring Commercial Casualty II. This class will focus on how independent agents can have productive conversations with customers in the field of commercial casualty exposures and coverages. It will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, and will be taught Robin Federici, CPCU, AAI, ARM, AINS, AIS, CPIW. This course has been approved for continuing-education credits in Connecticut (7 PC), New Jersey (7 GEN, DOBI will award 12 CE credits for each full year of the license term that the designation is maintained in good standing) and New York (7 BR, C3, PA, PC).

Conn.: Education sessions for a changing industry

The insurance industry is undergoing rapid changes, thanks in part to technological innovations, new regulations, new cyberthreats and softening market conditions. At the PIA Connecticut Convention, on March 19-20, 2026, at Foxwoods Resort Casino, stay ahead of industry trends by attending the two in-depth education sessions. The first session, with instructors Brad Lachut, Esq., and Christopher Weldon, Esq., is The New E&O Frontier: Technology, Compliance and Emerging Liabilities^AZ^UN. It will cover how errors-and-omissions risks are evolving due to changing industry conditions by using real-world E&O cases as example. The second session, Cyber Coverage Explained in Depth–Finally!, will be led by Jim Venezia, CPCU, CCIS, CCIC, and it will look to answer some of the unanswered questions agents have about cyber security coverage. Both sessions were submitted for Connecticut CE credits. All of this—and more—will be featured at this year’s convention. Make the most of early bird rates today and register now! Interested in sponsoring, exhibiting or advertising? ^AZ^UN–This course has been approved for E&O loss prevention credit by Allianz and Utica National.