The New York state Senate passed A.9284-A on May 10, 2022, with a 49-13 vote. This bill—sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, D-66—would be a chapter amendment to the 2021 dog breed law. It would close a loophole in the current law by...
A legacy: NFIP rating system’s past and future
Traditionally, a legacy is something that is handed down from one generation to the next. In the legal world, it is literally an amount of money or property left to someone. More philosophically, a legacy can be an idea, mission, or purpose that future generations are...
Increase Law & Ordinance coverage for homes in SFHA flood zones
Did you know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s substantial damage rule applies to any building damage … not just flood damage? That’s right, even common homeowners policy perils such as wind, fire and/or water damage could trigger the requirement for a...
N.Y.: Possible changes coming to New York’s dog breed law
The New York state Assembly passed A.9284-A on March 30, 2022, with a 114-32 vote. This bill—sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, D-66—would be a chapter amendment to the 2021 dog breed law. It would close a loophole in the current law by prohibiting insurers...
NOAA predicts a mild, warm Northeast this spring
Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its climate predictions for April, May and June. After a winter that was mild for some—and not so mild for others—this spring could be a much-needed break. However, some of these predictions come...
N.Y.: Defining windstorms in New York homeowners insurance
Each summer, meteorologists watch the weather over the Atlantic Ocean carefully for any signs of hurricanes forming and they determine if the storm gets big enough to earn a name. While the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a hurricane as, “violent storm with very...
N.Y.: The importance of the Regional Advisory Councils
PIA just concluded its most recent round of Regional Advisory Council meetings. What are RACs? I’m glad you asked. As a completely biased writer who has attended nearly a hundred RAC meetings throughout the years, they are one of the most valuable experiences that PIA...
Understanding insurance coverages for rented, hired and non-owned vehicles
Personal- and commercial-lines insureds are responsible for injuries or damage when they rent vehicles (or rent out their own vehicles to others), when they are hired to use their vehicles to provide delivery or transportation services and when they borrow or lend...
Yes, inflation is driving up insurance premiums
In the past year, inflation has sent prices soaring on many household items and gasoline—especially gasoline. While the effect on inflation does not have the same immediate impact on insurance premiums as it does for gas and groceries, insurance carriers have...
Do you know the ins and outs of commercial property coverage?
There are things every agent should understand about commercial property coverage. How well-versed are you on the finer points of this key coverage? Are you familiar with how the law affects the valuation of property? Or the effect that ordinances or laws can have on...