News
PIA Connecticut Convention 2026 is live!
This year’s PIA Connecticut Convention is underway! Insurance professionals from around the region are gathering for two days of valuable education insights, intense networking and outstanding business solutions from the sold-out trade show. There is also the networking lunch, which will honor the winners of this year’s PIACT Awards of Distinction recipients. End the day and connect with your peers at the Networking Reception, featuring music from DJ Mike Nigretti. Then, close out the conference next morning at the Farewell Breakfast Buffet with refreshing Bloody Marys and mimosas. If you have not yet registered for the convention, you can join by registering at the door. Follow PIA Northeast News & Media for updates on this year’s exciting convention.
Proposal announced to fund DHS for most umbrella agencies, including FEMA
A partial government shutdown has left the Department of Homeland Security without funding for over a month because of a demand for more oversight over its immigration umbrella agencies, which include Immigration and Customs Enforcements and Customs and Border Patrol. Democrats have issued a new offer, in which they will split funding between the immigration agencies and the remaining agencies. This includes the Transportation Security Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
AM Best: Report indicates p/c rating affirmations rose in 2025
A new AM Best report titled, “US P/C Rating Affirmations Rose in 2025 While Upgrades Outnumbered Downgrades,” has found rating upgrades outnumbered downgrades in the U.S. property/casualty industry for 2025. The report also found that rating affirmations were the most common rating action taken across all segments in 2025, increasing to 83.9% of activity, compared with 77.7% in 2024. According to the report, carriers in the p/c industry still are fighting inflation and rising reinsurance costs.
N.J.: Sherril presents FY2027 budget focusing on affordability
Gov. Mikie Sherril delivered her inaugural budget address last week, emphasizing its goals to make life in the state more affordable. The budget’s goals include property tax-relief to the middle class, initiatives to lower energy costs, a full payment to the state’s pension system and more. Affordability has been an area of focus for many fiscal budgets at the state and local level this year, including in New York state. This year’s New York state’s Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation budget focuses on making insurance more affordable.
N.Y.: Storm warnings remind us winter’s not over yet
This past weekend’s weather reminds us that winter might not be over yet as winter storm warnings were issued for upstate and western New York state. Impacted areas included parts of North Country, Mohawk Valley, Central and Western New York. Every winter, remember that PIA Northeast will keep its members updated on any winter storms that may affect the Northeast through its PIA Storm Info Central. The tool kit has numerous resources that you and your clients can use this winter.
Compliance
N.Y.: WCB to stop accepting faxed form submissions on April 1
The New York state Workers’ Compensation Board announced that it will no longer accept faxed paper forms starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026. This change stems from the board’s efforts to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of processing workers’ compensation documentation. Reminders of this change will be issued in the lead up to April 1, and information for other submission options can be found on the Board’s “Forms” webpage.
N.Y.: DFS issues penalty wavier for excess line broker annual tax filing
New York State Department of Financial Services Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow has issued a wavier for penalties related to the delay of excess line broker tax filings through Tuesday, April 14, 2026. According to New York state Insurance Law, DFS-regulated excess line brokers are required to electronically file an annual premium tax statement by March 15 of each year. This decision stems from brokers having questions regarding the department’s new single-sign-on system, DFS ID.
Advocacy
N.Y.: TED Part FF extends fraud reporting window
In PIANY’s ongoing series examining the insurance-related proposals in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation budget, the latest installment examines Part FF. This proposal would extend the time frame for reporting suspected fraudulent insurance transactions to the New York State Department of Financial Services from 30 days to 60 days. This extension would mitigate pressure put on agents filing a report and would allow them to complete more thorough investigations and submit higher quality fraud referrals.
Technical
Staying ahead of hackers—agency cyber security strategies
Cyberthreats have been growing more complex over the years, threatening insurance agents and their businesses. There are cyber security strategies your agency can adopt to protect itself, its agents and its customers. For more information, PIA Northeast members can access New ways to outwit hackers—strategic cyber security recommendations in the PIA QuickSource library. For additional information about cybersecurity, logon to PIA Northeast News & Media, and click the “Cyber” tag.
Educating insurance agents
Making ethical choices when protecting your agency against E&O claims
In your efforts to minimize errors-and-omissions exposures against your insurance agency, you may find yourself faced with many complex ethical decisions. To learn how to make the best choices, you can attend the webinar E&O Loss Prevention and Ethics–There is a Connection!^AZ^UN on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. This class will be taught by Catherine L. Trischan, CPCU, CIC, CRM, AU, AAI, CRIS, ARM, MLIS, TRIP. It has been approved for continuing-education credits in Connecticut (3 LRE), New Jersey (3 ETH) and New York (3 BR, C1, C3, LA, LB, LSB, PA, PC). ^AZ^UN This course has been approved for E&O loss prevention credit by Allianz and Utica National.
Register now
Wednesday, April 22, 2026: PIANJ Women’s Leadership Alliance Golf Clinic
Wednesday, April 22, 2026: NY-YIP Buffalo I-Day Welcome
Wednesday, May 6, 2026: NJYIP Golf Open
May 11 | May 18 | June 8: Emerging Leaders Series: Connecticut | New Jersey | New York
June 7-9, 2026: PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference
Tuesday, June 9, 2026: NJYIP Fun Run at Annual Conference
Tuesday, June 23, 2026: CTYIP Golf Open
Thursday, July 23, 2026: NJYIP Summer Breeze Bash
Save the date
Sunday, June 7, 2026: NJYIP Nitecap at Annual Conference
Monday, Aug. 3, 2026: NY-YIP Annual Golf Open
