Agents Lobby on Pro-Consumer Measures at NY Day on the Hill

​This week, members of Big I NY's Group of 100​ traveled to Albany for our “Day on the Hill" to meet with state lawmakers and urge them to support proposals that will help New York consumers. The state budget process is in full swing, and Governor's recently released budget includes many proposals that will impact policyholders.First and foremost is the dire state of New York's insurance market. Policyholders are struggling with rising rates and shrinking availability, and agents are facing new challenges obtaining coverage for their customers. G100 members lobbied in support of common-sense changes to the recently enacted supplemental spousal liability law, including applying…

Continue ReadingAgents Lobby on Pro-Consumer Measures at NY Day on the Hill

2023: Our Most Successful Advocacy Year…Yet!

​With the new year upon us, let us take a moment to reflect upon 2023, which was easily the most effective and successful legislative session in recent history for Big I NY. The victories we achieved this year will have lasting impacts on independent agencies and their customers. These accomplishments were achieved, in no small part, due to the tireless advocacy of our members and our government affairs team in Albany.Photo inspection reform and unfair quoting practices legislation signed into law:In 2023, Big I NY was successful in passing a law to allow insurance companies to waive CARCO inspections for the next four years. Based on…

Continue Reading2023: Our Most Successful Advocacy Year…Yet!

​ Governor Hochul Signs Big I Priority Auto Insurance Quoting Fairness Law, Vetoes Noncompete Ban

​What Happened:Great news! Governor Hochul has taken favorable action on two key bills affecting IAs and their customers. On December 23rd, the Governor signed into law a Big I NY priority bill, A.4668-B, which will require carriers to run an insurance motor vehicle record before binding coverage. This will protect customers from unscrupulous quoting and pricing practices whereby certain carriers will bind a policy only to later run the MVR and substantially raise the premium. Responsible insurance agents and companies utilize all available underwriting resources prior to binding a policy for an insured. The practice of intentionally disregarding driver history information in order to present…

Continue Reading​ Governor Hochul Signs Big I Priority Auto Insurance Quoting Fairness Law, Vetoes Noncompete Ban