Advocacy

This week, Big I NY was invited to testify in person before the Senate Insurance Committee on legislation to ban the use of lead paint exclusions in rental property liability coverage. We believe that while well-intentioned, this measure would completely destabilize the rental liability coverage market, resulting in a crisis of availability. The hearing will take place beginning at 10:00am on Monday, November 8th, and will be webcast. On Thursday, the Albany County Sheriff's Office filed a criminal complaint against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, charging him with forcibly touching an executive assistant last year, which is a misdemeanor. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in…

​Big I NY Raises Concerns With NY Privacy Act:This week, Big I NY participated in a roundtable meeting on the New York Privacy Act, hosted by the bill's sponsors, Senator Kevin Thomas (D, Nassau County) and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D, Manhattan). This bill would create sweeping and burdensome data privacy rules, including most significantly a fiduciary duty on entities that handle customer data and private right of action allowing private parties to sue for damages. The bill includes generous incentives to file lawsuits, including allowing for the awarding of attorneys fees, minimum damages, and authorizing class actions.Big I NY has opposed this bill since its…

​Legislation from U.S. House committee would raise taxes on independent agencies.​WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 15, 2021 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I") today voiced opposition to the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee's passage of legislation that would raise roughly $2 trillion of new revenue through tax increases on businesses and individuals.  “The Big 'I' was disappointed to see House Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee vote to move forward with a number of substantial tax increases on our nation's small businesses," says Charles Symington, Big “I" senior vice president of external, industry and government affairs. “The last…