Property/casualty insurance rarely gets the spotlight in a governor’s State of the State address. Most years, it’s a footnote—if mentioned at all. However, this year is different. Gov. Kathy Hochul put home and auto insurance front and...
PIANY’s 2026 legislative priorities: Building a fairer, stronger insurance marketplace
As the 2026 legislative session begins in Albany, PIANY is once again advancing practical, meaningful reforms to improve the state’s insurance environment. PIANY’s priorities this year reflect the challenges independent agents are seeing in real time—outdated...
Governor vetoes insurance definitions bill—following PIANY advocacy
Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed S.4963/A.1572, legislation that would have required the New York State Department of Financial Services to establish standardized definitions for commonly used terms in personal- and commercial-lines insurance policies. While the...
PIA Northeast: District Office Visits: Unlock legislative influence
District Office Visits are a key member benefit provided by PIA, designed to foster meaningful relationships between PIA members and state legislators. These strategic advocacy meetings, held either in-person or virtually with state legislators, allow PIA members to...
What is the difference between the Agents Advocacy Coalition, the New Jersey PIAPAC and PIA National’s PIAPAC?
PIA Northeast has two state bipartisan political action committees—Agents Advocacy Coalition, the official PAC of PIANY and New Jersey PIAPAC. Each of these supports legislators and candidates from their respective state offices (such as the state Assembly and state...
Should the United States create a national natural disaster fund?
Trends in the insurance industry have shown that carriers are raising rates, limiting coverages or pulling out of entire markets—often citing catastrophic losses tied to natural disasters. From wildfires in California and tornadoes in the Midwest, to hurricanes along...
Leadership changes at DFS: What insurance producers should know
The New York State Department of Financial Services will see a change in leadership this October. Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris will step down after four years of service. Gov. Kathy Hochul has appointed Kaitlin Asrow as acting superintendent, effective Saturday,...
What happens if the NFIP lapses? A guide for insurance agents and their clients
With hurricane season underway, and Congress still negotiating a continuing resolution to fund the federal government, insurance agents should be prepared for the possibility of a lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program. Currently, the NFIP is set to expire Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. A short-term flood extension bill has been attached to the stalled CR, raising concerns about what could happen if lawmakers don’t act in time.
PIA Northeast goes to Washington 2025: Advocates for agents, consumers at Capitol Hill
As autumn settles over Washington, D.C., the city stirs with crisp air and an unexpected display of cherry blossoms. Yet, it wasn’t the scenery that drew independent insurance agents from across the country to the capital on Sept. 17, 2025. Instead, these dedicated...
N.Y. Senate targets residential property insurance: Your voice is needed
The New York state Senate has issued a sweeping request for information on the state’s residential property insurance market—signaling the start of what could become a fast-moving legislative push to address skyrocketing premiums, shrinking availability and increasing...