Coming off an expensive statewide ballot election featuring all 120 elected Assemblymembers and Senators, the New Jersey state Legislature’s lame duck session currently is in full swing. On Nov. 30, 2023, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-22,...
Risks associated with electronic bikes
Electric bicycles—or e-bikes—have become popular as an eco-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective mode of transportation. While these bicycles offer myriad benefits, they carry certain risks—which riders can mitigate. Electric bikes are powered by batteries,...
PIANY-priority photo inspection bill signed into law
PIANY’s top legislative priority for the 2023 legislative year is passage of legislation that would make important changes to New York state's antiquated photo inspection system. Today, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed (A.3172-A/S.5889) into law—making this top PIANY...
New York reaches settlement with Lyft, Uber
New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled two historic settlements valued at a combined $328 million with ride-sharing conglomerates Lyft and Uber on Nov. 1, 2023. These settlements mark the conclusion of extensive investigations into both companies, revealing...
N.Y.: DFS releases final cyber regulations, PIA offers guidance
The New York State Department of Financial Services released its official second amendment to the cyber security regulation (23 NYCRR 500) on Nov. 1, 2023. The amendment makes multi-factor authentication mandatory for all covered entities, increases the thresholds for...
Health insurance, new diabetic drugs and the future of weight loss
In the U.S., weight-loss drugs have received renewed attention thanks to recent medical advancements. Frequently, Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are included in this conversation—even though not all of them are marketed as weight-loss drugs. For example, Ozempic notes...
Are you selling umbrellas with holes in ’em?: If your clients get wet, you could too!
We (independent agents) are raised to sell umbrella liability insurance policies, but why? We are told to sell umbrellas because people can get sued for an auto accident or a slip-and-fall, and other outrageous scenarios. Basically, when you make a mistake and cause...
Veterinary medicine trends affect pet’s care
The COVID-19 pandemic left a major mark on the American workforce that can be seen in every industry. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provided a brief overview of these trends in a September 2023 report. The report characterizes this phenomenon of industries seeing high...
N.J.: Property valuations
If you are like most of us, you are finding that property valuations are going crazy—what may be valued as $1.9 million home with an ISO carrier may be valued as a $1.4 million home based on an MSO carrier’s estimator. And, to add to that, who knows what the...
This Halloween, don’t get scared: get coverage!
Halloween is almost here, and with it, everything that makes the holiday so special. There’s the chilly fall air, and it seems as though there’s the grinning jack-o-lanterns posted at every door. Elaborate decorations and haunted houses are a fixture of Hallows’ Eve,...