Advocacy

This week, our campaign to pass the Auto Insurance Consumer Relief Act, which would make photo inspections (CARCOs) optional at the discretion of insurance companies, gained major momentum. Key Committee Vote Scheduled:On Friday, our campaign achieved a key milestone when our bill was scheduled for a vote by the Senate Insurance Committee. This marks the first time in history the Senate has voted on this bill.​​ It must pass the committee vote, which will be held on Monday, May 25th, before it can be voted on by the full Senate. The scheduling of this vote follows three months of grassroots advocacy by Big I NY, including emails…

​Today, NY First, Big I NY’s coalition of agents and independent insurance carriers, issued a press release kicking off our public relations campaign aimed at building support for legislation to make auto photo inspections (CARCOs) optional at the discretion of insurers. The bill, dubbed the Auto Insurance Consumer Relief Act (S.6028), passed the New York State Assembly with bipartisan support at the end of March. If enacted, the bill will make it easier for customers to obtain comprehensive and collision coverage, and provide regulatory relief to consumers, independent agents and brokers, and insurance companies.In the coming month, Big I NY agents and our carrier partners will…

​On Thursday, the Big I NY Board of Directors met with senior leadership of the Department of Financial Services, including My Chi To, Executive Deputy Superintendent for Insurance, Sumit Sud, Senior Deputy Superintendent of Insurance, and Ellen Buxbaum, Director of Producer Supervision. Both DFS and Big I NY expressed an interest in working collaboratively to promote the health of the state's insurance industry and protect consumers. We thank the DFS for their interest in partnering with industry stakeholders, and look forward to working with the Department on the issues that are most important to independent agents and our customers.​On Friday, Independent Agents Advocacy Week(s) concluded, wrapping up…