Senate Insurance Committee advances nine bills in voice votes; one member urges more adjusters after storms

Senator Jamal T. Bailey, chair of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Insurance, presided over the committee’s March 3, 2025 meeting in Albany, where members reported nine bills out of committee by voice vote.

The meeting advanced measures that would amend the Insurance Law and, in one case, the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Most motions were moved and seconded by committee members and approved by unanimous voice votes; the transcript records committee approval but does not list individual roll-call tallies.

The committee reported, among other measures, bills described in the agenda as: Senate print 3147 (an act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to the sale of a non‑indemnity legal service plan); Senate print 3352 (to amend the Insurance Law and the Vehicle and Traffic Law in relation to electronic delivery of notices); Senate print 4850 (to include second‑degree relatives in certain criteria for breast cancer screening coverage); Senate print 4960 (exemption from certain filing requirements with respect to rates and policy forms); Senate print 4964 (excess line coverage for certain medical malpractice insurance); Senate print 5310 (permitting a waiver of the diligent effort requirement in limited circumstances for certain coverage placed by licensed excess line brokers with unauthorized insurers); Senate print 35311 (mortgage guarantee insurance); Senate print 5313 (addressing noncovered dental services); and Senate print 5326 (standardized health insurance contracts for small dental employers, with a repeal provision). Each bill was moved, seconded and reported by the committee via voice vote; the transcript does not record individual “yes”/“no” votes.

During discussion of the measure identified in the transcript as Senate print 4964, a senator identified in the record as Senator Homan said recent natural disasters, including severe windstorms in Homan’s district, had damaged property and vehicles and “this bill would increase the number of adjusters, the qualified adjusters who could come out and help in those situations.” Homan added that the bill did not yet have an Assembly sponsor and said she hoped the committee would work to secure one. The chair acknowledged the comment and said he would seek an Assembly sponsor.

Most bills received only brief discussion before being moved and seconded. Committee members joining the meeting at various points included Senator Fernandez and Senator O’Mara, and the chair referenced prior related bills from Senator Breslin.

Votes at a glance (committee action: reported/approved by voice vote; transcript records voice votes but not roll-call tallies):

- Senate print 3147 — "An act to amend the Insurance Law in relation to the sale of a non indemnity legal service plan." Moved by Senator Adabo; seconded by Senator Cummings. Outcome: reported (voice vote; individual tallies not recorded in transcript).

- Senate print 3352 — "To amend the Insurance Law and the Vehicle and Traffic Law in relation to electronic delivery of notices." Moved by Senator Gennardis; seconded by Senator Gennardis. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

- Senate print 4850 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to including second degree relatives in certain criteria for breast cancer screenings to be covered under insurance plans." Moved by Senator Garard; seconded by Senator Dabo. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

- Senate print 4960 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to exemption from filing requirements only with respect to rates and policy forms." Moved by Senator Adabo; seconded by Senator Gennardis. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

- Senate print 4964 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to excess line coverage for certain medical malpractice insurance." Moved by Senator Gennard; seconded by Senator Fernandez. Outcome: reported (voice vote). Note: Senator Homan raised concerns about adjuster availability following recent storms and requested an Assembly sponsor for the measure.

- Senate print 5310 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to permitting a waiver of the diligent effort requirement in limited circumstances for certain insurance coverage to be placed by licensed excess line brokers with unauthorized insurers." Moved by Senator Fernandez; seconded by Senator Adabo. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

- Senate print 35311 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to mortgage guarantee insurance." Moved by Senator Helming; seconded by Senator Adabo and Senator Menardis. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

- Senate print 5313 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to addressing noncovered dental services." Moved by Senator Hart; seconded by Senator Davenport. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

- Senate print 5326 — "To amend the Insurance Law in relation to standardized health insurance contracts for small dental employers and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof." Moved by Senator Garda; seconded by Senator Sanders. Outcome: reported (voice vote).

The committee adjourned after reporting the listed bills. The transcript records committee actions as voice approvals and does not provide roll-call vote details or exact vote counts. The chair closed the meeting with a motion to adjourn.