Assembly passes bill asking DFS to seek funds and issue RFP to implement homeowner disaster‑preparedness program

The New York State Assembly passed A.182‑A on March 17, 2026, directing the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to seek state funds and issue a request for proposals to implement a homeowner natural‑disaster preparedness, home‑safety and loss‑prevention program authorized in the 2016 state budget. The bill passed by a roll call of 109–28.

Sponsor Assemblymember Cruz said the program was authorized in 2016 and DFS issued a 2017 circular encouraging insurers to submit disaster‑preparedness courses for approval, but “to this date, no such courses have actually been submitted to DFS for approval.” She said the bill would prompt DFS to request funding from the governor’s office so the department can issue an RFP and attract course proposals from insurers.

During floor questioning, Assemblymember Walsh asked whether the problem was a lack of submitted proposals rather than a failure by DFS to approve them; Cruz replied that insurers have not submitted proposals. Cruz said any request for funding would be submitted by DFS to the governor’s office and indicated the required funding request deadline in the bill language is March 1, 2027. The bill does not specify the size of the appropriation or the department’s internal evaluation criteria for submitted programs, the sponsor said.

Walsh, who announced she would vote in the affirmative, said she was frustrated that a program authorized nearly a decade earlier had not been effectuated and argued the training could lead to small premium reductions for homeowners who complete approved courses. The clerk read the bill’s final section and the chamber recorded the vote: Ayes 109, Nays 28. The act takes effect immediately.

Why it matters: Supporters say an implemented program could give homeowners practical skills to reduce disaster‑related losses and modest premium savings for participating homeowners. Questions remain about the size of any appropriation, how DFS would evaluate course proposals and whether insurers will submit courses once state funds are requested.

What’s next: The bill directs DFS to request funding from the governor and to issue an RFP. The transcript records a funding‑request date of March 1, 2027; the actual content and size of any appropriation will depend on subsequent executive and budget actions.

Direct quotes: “To this date, no such courses have actually been submitted to DFS for approval,” Assemblymember Cruz said when explaining the bill.

“I think that this is the next step to try to ensure that there’s some compliance,” Assemblymember Walsh said in explaining her vote.

Ending: The Assembly adopted the bill on the floor; further implementation depends on DFS’s funding request to the governor and any subsequent procurement activity by DFS.