New York Senate Insurance Committee reports nine insurance-related bills to the floor

The New York State Senate Insurance Committee, chaired by Senator Jamal T. Bailey, met on March 3, 2025, and reported nine bills to the Senate floor, nearly all by voice vote.

"Good morning. In the beginning of what they call March Madness, not just in basketball, in the legislature ... welcome to the insurance standing committee on insurance," Bailey said as he opened the session.

The measures considered would amend the Insurance Law or related state statutes on a range of topics, including the sale of non‑indemnity legal service plans (Senate Print 3147), electronic delivery of notices (Senate Print 3352), expanding coverage criteria to include certain second‑degree relatives for breast cancer screenings (Senate Print 4850), exemptions from rate-and-policy‑form filing requirements (Senate Print 4960), excess‑line coverage for some medical malpractice insurance (Senate Print 4964), limited waivers of the diligent effort requirement for excess line placements (Senate Print 5310), mortgage guarantee insurance provisions (Senate Print 35311), noncovered dental services (Senate Print 5313) and standardized small‑employer dental contracts with a repeal provision (Senate Print 5326).

Most items were moved and seconded by committee members and advanced on unanimous or unrecorded voice votes; the committee recorded each bill as "reported." A committee member noted increased demand for qualified insurance adjusters following recent natural disasters and observed that several bills did not yet have companion measures in the Assembly, which committee members said they would pursue.

Discussion during the hearing was limited. Committee members took turns moving and seconding bills and the chair called voice votes for approval. Where members offered substantive remarks, they were brief: a committee member highlighted recent severe spring storms in their district and said the measure on adjuster qualifications would expand the number of adjusters available after natural disasters, and noted the lack of an Assembly companion for that bill.

The meeting concluded after the final bill was reported and the committee moved to adjourn. Reported bills will proceed to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Print 3147 — An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to the sale of a non‑indemnity legal service plan. Motion moved by Senator Adalo; seconded by Senator Cummings. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 3352 — An act to amend the Insurance Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law in relation to electronic delivery of notices. Motion moved by Senator Gennardis; seconded by Senator Gennardis. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 4850 — An act to amend the Insurance Law to include certain second‑degree relatives in coverage criteria for breast cancer screenings. Motion moved by Senator Garard; seconded by Senator Dabo. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 4960 — An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to exemption from filing requirements with respect to rates and policy forms. Motion moved by Senator Adabo; seconded by Senator Gennardis. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 4964 — An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to excess line coverage for certain medical malpractice insurance. Motion moved by Senator Gennard; seconded by Senator Fernandez. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 5310 — An act to permit a waiver of the diligent effort requirement in limited circumstances for certain coverage placed by licensed excess line brokers with unauthorized insurers. Motion moved by Senator Fernandez; seconded by Senator Adabo. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 35311 — An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to mortgage guarantee insurance. Motion moved by Senator Helming; seconded by Senator Adabo. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 5313 — An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to addressing noncovered dental services. Motion moved by Senator Hart; seconded by Senator Fernandez. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote. - Senate Print 5326 — An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to standardized health insurance contracts for small dental employers and repeal of such provisions upon expiration. Motion moved by Senator Garda; seconded by Senator Sanders. Outcome: reported to the floor by voice vote.

(Where the transcript recorded only a voice vote and no roll call, the committee recorded bills as "reported." Specific numeric tallies were not provided in the committee record.)