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S08583 Summary:

BILL NOS08583A
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORKAVANAGH
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add 4122, 3463 & 2346-b, amd 2305, 3425, 3426, 3462 & 5402, Ins L
 
Requires property/casualty insurance companies to submit certain information to the department of financial services, including zip code-level data on nonrenewal rates, nonpayment cancellation rates, other cancellation rates, claim frequency rates, average claim amounts, paid loss ratios, and average premiums; market share data; for property/casualty insurance companies that use a natural disaster risk model or scoring method to assign risk, information about such model or scoring method; requires the department of financial services and the division of housing and community renewal to issue an annual report on the housing insurance market for multifamily and nonprofit housing providers; authorizes a premium discount to policyholders of homeowners insurance or property/casualty insurance applicable to residential real property who demonstrate property-specific and community-level mitigation actions to reduce the risk of loss from a natural disaster; requires insurers to post about such discounts on their public websites; relates to the timing of cancellation and nonrenewal notices for certain insurance policies; relates to increasing membership of the board governing the New York property insurance underwriting association; requires a quadrennial report on the activities of such association; increases such board membership to 23 including 6 directors appointed by the legislature and 4 directors appointed by the governor.
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S08583 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         8583--A
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                    November 17, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee
 
        AN   ACT   to   amend  the  insurance  law,  in  relation  to  requiring
          property/casualty insurance companies to submit certain zip code-level
          data, market share data, and  information  about  models  and  scoring
          methods used for catastrophes to the department of financial services;
          to  amend the insurance law, in relation to requiring an annual report
          on the housing insurance market for multifamily and nonprofit  housing
          providers;  to  amend  the insurance law, in relation to authorizing a
          premium discount to policyholders who demonstrate  certain  mitigation
          actions;  to  amend  the  insurance law, in relation  to the timing of
          cancellation  and  nonrenewal  notices    for certain insurance  poli-
          cies;  and  to  amend  the  insurance  law,  in relation to increasing
          membership of the board governing  the  New  York  property  insurance
          underwriting  association and to requiring a quadrennial report on the
          activities of such association
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 4122
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 4122. Reporting requirements for property/casualty insurance  compa-
     4  nies.    (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall
     5  have the following meanings:
     6    (1) "Catastrophe model" means a tool, instrumentality, means, or prod-
     7  uct, including a map-based tool, a computer-based tool, or a  simulation
     8  that is used by an insurer to estimate potential losses from catastroph-
     9  ic events.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13906-07-5

        S. 8583--A                          2
 
     1    (2)  "Community-level  mitigation  action" means a science-based miti-
     2  gation action as demonstrated  by  a  community  or  neighborhood  level
     3  designation or certification or as undertaken by a government entity.
     4    (3)  "Property-specific mitigation action" means a science-based miti-
     5  gation action that includes a verification and certification process.
     6    (4) "Natural disaster  risk  model"  means  a  tool,  instrumentality,
     7  means, or product, including a map-based tool, a computer-based tool, or
     8  a simulation, that is used by an insurer in whole or in part, to measure
     9  or  assess the natural disaster risk associated with a residential prop-
    10  erty or community for  purposes  of  rating,  classifying,  pricing,  or
    11  underwriting,  including  but  not limited to writing or renewing insur-
    12  ance, based on natural disaster  risk  or  estimating  risks  or  losses
    13  corresponding to the natural disaster risk classifications.
    14    (5)  "Natural    disaster"  means the occurrence or imminent threat of
    15  widespread catastrophic or severe damage, injury, or  loss  of  life  or
    16  property resulting from any natural cause including, but not limited to,
    17  fire,  flood,  earthquake,  hurricane,  tornado,  high water, landslide,
    18  mudslide, wind, storm, wave  action,  ice    storm,  air  contamination,
    19  blight,  drought,  infestation,  explosion,  water contamination, bridge
    20  failure, or bridge collapse.
    21    (b) Every property/casualty insurance company doing business  in  this
    22  state shall submit the following information to the department:
    23    (1) Zip code-level data on the following topics:
    24    (A) nonrenewal rates;
    25    (B) nonpayment cancellation rates;
    26    (C) other cancellation rates;
    27    (D) claim frequency rates;
    28    (E) average claim amounts;
    29    (F) paid loss ratios; and
    30    (G) average premiums;
    31    (2) Market share data; and
    32    (3)  If utilized, the natural disaster risk model or catastrophe model
    33  or scoring method used to assign risk.
    34    (A) The following information about a natural disaster risk  model  or
    35  catastrophe model or scoring method shall be submitted:
    36    (i) a description of such model or method;
    37    (ii) the impact of such model or method on rates;
    38    (iii)  an  actuarial  justification  for all rating factors, including
    39  mitigation discounts offered; and
    40    (iv) an explanation of the use of the model or method in  underwriting
    41  decisions.
    42    (B)  Any  model or method submitted to the department pursuant to this
    43  paragraph shall be treated as a trade secret and shall not be subject to
    44  disclosure under article six of the public officers law.
    45    (C) Any property/casualty insurance company that uses a natural disas-
    46  ter risk model, a catastrophe model, or a combination  of  models  shall
    47  ensure  the  following  factors  are  either incorporated in the natural
    48  disaster risk model, catastrophe model, or combination of models or  are
    49  otherwise  demonstrably  included  in  such  property/casualty insurance
    50  company's underwriting and pricing:
    51    (i) property-specific mitigation actions such as establishing defensi-
    52  ble space,  incorporating  building  hardening  measures,  or  receiving
    53  certification from an entity with experience in mitigation of properties
    54  against natural disasters; and
    55    (ii)  community-level mitigation activities or designations, including
    56  forest treatment and other fuel reduction activities.

        S. 8583--A                          3
 
     1    (D) Any property/casualty insurance company that uses a natural disas-
     2  ter risk model or a catastrophe model or scoring method to  assign  risk
     3  shall  also include the information required in subparagraph (A) of this
     4  paragraph in any rate filing submitted to  the  superintendent  by  such
     5  property/casualty insurance company.
     6    (c)  The department shall create and maintain a public-facing database
     7  where policyholders can  access  the  market  share  data  submitted  by
     8  property/casualty  insurance  companies  pursuant  to  paragraph  two of
     9  subsection (b) of this section.
    10    § 2. The insurance law is amended by adding a new section 3463 to read
    11  as follows:
    12    § 3463. Report on the housing insurance  market  for  multifamily  and
    13  nonprofit  housing  providers.  (a)  Definitions.  For  purposes of this
    14  section:
    15    (1) "Multifamily residential building"  means  a  property  containing
    16  five or more dwelling units.
    17    (2)  "Nonprofit  housing  provider"  means  organizations described by
    18  section 501(c)(3) of the United States internal revenue code, charitable
    19  corporations as defined in paragraph (a) of section one hundred  two  of
    20  the  not-for-profit corporation law and formed pursuant to paragraph (a)
    21  of section two hundred one of the not-for-profit  corporation  law,  and
    22  organizations  described  by section two hundred sixteen-a of the educa-
    23  tion law that own or operate residential housing in New York.
    24    (3) "Affordable housing development" means a residential building with
    25  units required to  be  affordable  by  statute,  regulation,  regulatory
    26  agreement, or recorded covenant.
    27    (4)  "Excess  line insurance" has the same meaning as in article twen-
    28  ty-one of this chapter.
    29    (5) "Insurer" means an authorized insurer writing property or  liabil-
    30  ity  coverage  on residential buildings and includes reporting by excess
    31  line placements through the excess  line  association  of  New  York  as
    32  provided by regulation.
    33    (b)  Annual  joint report. (1) The superintendent and the commissioner
    34  of homes and community renewal shall submit a joint report  detailed  in
    35  subdivision  (c) of this section on or before October first of each year
    36  to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the  speaker
    37  of the assembly, and post it on their websites.
    38    (2)  The  report  shall  analyze the availability, pricing, terms, and
    39  affordability of property and liability insurance for multifamily  resi-
    40  dential  buildings  owned  or  operated  by nonprofit and mission-driven
    41  entities, including affordable housing developments.
    42    (3) The report shall include statewide and regional results, with  New
    43  York city reported separately from the rest of the state.
    44    (c)  Required contents. The report shall present, at a minimum, aggre-
    45  gated statistics for the prior calendar year on:
    46    (1) Premium levels and changes, including average and  median  premium
    47  per unit and square foot, and premium as a share of operating expenses.
    48    (2)  Coverage  availability  and market channel, including non-renewal
    49  and declination counts, the share placed in the excess-line market,  and
    50  use of New York property insurance underwriting association.
    51    (3) Deductibles by peril and trend.
    52    (4)  Common  exclusions  and  limitations,  including  new or expanded
    53  exclusions introduced in the reporting year.
    54    (5) Coverage limits relative to reported replacement cost.
    55    (6) Claims frequency and severity for fire, water, wind,  and  liabil-
    56  ity, to the extent available.

        S. 8583--A                          4

     1    (7)  Documented  affordability  impacts in the division of housing and
     2  community  renewal  portfolios,  including   rent-pressure   indicators,
     3  reserve  draws,  or  capital-plan  deferrals linked to insurance expense
     4  changes.
     5    (8)   Risk-mitigation  credits  and  building  resiliency  investments
     6  reported by owners and recognized by insurers.
     7    (9) Regional heat-map summaries of market stress using the methodology
     8  set by the department by bulletin or circular letter. The department may
     9  align with the national association of insurance commissioners'  market-
    10  intelligence data elements.
    11    (d)  Data  collection  and confidentiality. (1) The superintendent may
    12  require special reports under section three hundred eight of this  chap-
    13  ter and may consolidate requests with existing department data calls.
    14    (2)  Submissions that constitute trade secrets or sensitive commercial
    15  information are confidential under paragraph (d) of subdivision  two  of
    16  section  eighty-seven  of  the public officers law. The published report
    17  shall contain only aggregated, de-identified statistics and analysis.
    18    (3) The department shall consult with excess line and New York proper-
    19  ty insurance underwriting association regarding reporting  formats  that
    20  capture  excess-line placements and assigned-risk activity without iden-
    21  tifying individual insureds.
    22     (e) Rulemaking. The department  may  adopt  regulations  or  circular
    23  letters  to  implement  this  section,  harmonize  data  standards  with
    24  national association of insurance commissioners and other states,  limit
    25  the  burden  on small insurers, and ensure data quality. The division of
    26  housing and  community  renewal  may  issue  guidance  to  participating
    27  owners.
    28    (f)  No  private  right  of  action. Nothing in this section creates a
    29  private right of action.
    30    § 3. The insurance law is amended by adding a new  section  2346-b  to
    31  read as follows:
    32    §  2346-b.  Homeowners insurance or property/casualty insurance; miti-
    33  gation action. 1. For the purposes of this section, the following  terms
    34  shall have the following meanings:
    35    (a)  "community-level  mitigation  action" means a science-based miti-
    36  gation action as  demonstrated  by  a  community  or  neighborhood-level
    37  designation or certification or as undertaken by a government entity;
    38    (b)  "natural  disaster"  means  the  occurrence or imminent threat of
    39  widespread catastrophic or severe damage, injury, or  loss  of  life  or
    40  property resulting from any natural cause including, but not limited to,
    41  fire,  flood,  earthquake,  hurricane,  tornado,  high water, landslide,
    42  mudslide, wind,  storm,  wave  action,  ice  storm,  air  contamination,
    43  blight,  drought,  infestation,  explosion,  water contamination, bridge
    44  failure, or bridge collapse;
    45    (c) "natural disaster risk model"  means  a    tool,  instrumentality,
    46  means, or product, including a map-based tool, a computer-based tool, or
    47  a simulation, that is used by an insurer in whole or in part, to measure
    48  or  assess the natural disaster risk associated with a residential prop-
    49  erty or community for purposes of rating, classifying, or pricing  based
    50  on  natural disaster risk or estimating risks or losses corresponding to
    51  the natural disaster risk classifications; and
    52    (d) "property-specific mitigation action" means a science-based  miti-
    53  gation action that includes a verification and certification process.
    54    2.  The  superintendent  shall  provide for an actuarially appropriate
    55  reduction  in  the  rates   of   homeowners   insurance   premiums   and
    56  property/casualty  insurance  premiums  applicable  to  residential real

        S. 8583--A                          5
 
     1  property for policyholders who can  demonstrate  that  property-specific
     2  mitigation  actions  have  been undertaken on the property or community-
     3  level mitigation actions have been undertaken in sufficient proximity to
     4  the  property  to  reduce  the risk of loss from a natural disaster. The
     5  superintendent shall by regulation establish a process for policyholders
     6  to demonstrate such mitigation actions have occurred.
     7    3. An insurer shall post on  its  public  website  readily  accessible
     8  information  on  the  premium  discounts,  incentives  or  other premium
     9  adjustments that are available to policyholders of homeowners  insurance
    10  or  property/casualty  insurance applicable to residential real property
    11  who undertake property-specific mitigation actions or  provide  evidence
    12  of  community-level  mitigation  actions. The website shall identify, as
    13  applicable:
    14    (a) Property-specific  mitigation  actions  for  the  policyholder  to
    15  undertake  and  community-level mitigation actions, as determined by the
    16  superintendent, that could result in a  discount,  incentive,  or  other
    17  premium adjustment; and
    18    (b) The amount of the discount, incentive, or other premium adjustment
    19  associated with each action.
    20    4.  (a)  An insurer that provides a mitigation discount or that uses a
    21  natural disaster risk model  or  risk  score  to  underwrite,  nonrenew,
    22  price,  create  a rate differential, or surcharge the premium based upon
    23  the policyholder's or applicant's natural disaster risk shall provide an
    24  annual written notice to each policyholder or applicant upon application
    25  for insurance of the applicable mitigation discounts, the natural disas-
    26  ter risk score, and any other natural disaster risk classification  used
    27  by  the  insurer to underwrite, nonrenew, price, create a rate differen-
    28  tial, or surcharge the premium based upon the policyholder's  or  appli-
    29  cant's natural disaster risk.
    30    (b) Such notice shall include:
    31    (i) a plain-language explanation of the natural disaster risk score or
    32  other  natural  disaster  risk  classification, including an explanation
    33  that insurers may use different models and  have  different  risk  score
    34  changes that could result in different risk scores from other insurers;
    35    (ii) the range of the scores or classifications that could potentially
    36  be assigned to the property;
    37    (iii) the relative position of the score or classification assigned to
    38  the  property  within  that  range of possible scores or classifications
    39  provided by the insurer's risk model;
    40    (iv) a written  explanation  of  why  the  policyholder  or  applicant
    41  received the assigned score or classification that identifies the prima-
    42  ry  features of the property that influenced the assignment of the score
    43  or classification; and
    44    (v) the impact, if any,  that  each  property-specific  mitigation  or
    45  community-level  mitigation action could have on a natural disaster risk
    46  score or classification assigned to the property.
    47    5. The insurer shall provide the natural disaster risk score or  clas-
    48  sification to the policyholder or the applicant:
    49    (a) for applicants, no later than fifteen days after the submission of
    50  the applicant's completed application to the insurer;
    51    (b) for policyholders, in the offer of renewal;
    52    (c)  for  policyholders that are not being offered a renewal, with the
    53  nonrenewal notice; and
    54    (d) for a policyholder or applicant, if the policyholder or  applicant
    55  has completed a property-specific mitigation action or provides evidence
    56  of  a  community-level  mitigation action in sufficient proximity to the

        S. 8583--A                          6
 
     1  property to reduce the risk of loss since the time of the last  applica-
     2  tion  to  or renewal by the insurer, no later than thirty days after the
     3  submission to the insurer of the policyholder's or  applicant's  request
     4  that  the  insurer provide a revised natural disaster risk score or risk
     5  classification.
     6    6. A policyholder or applicant for a policy of insurance whose natural
     7  disaster risk model score, natural disaster risk classification assigned
     8  to the property, or applicable mitigation  discount  is  inaccurate  and
     9  provides evidence of the property-specific or community-level mitigation
    10  action  may  appeal the score directly to the insurer. The insurer shall
    11  notify the policyholder or applicant in writing of the right  to  appeal
    12  the  natural  disaster risk score or other natural disaster risk classi-
    13  fication or applicable mitigation discount when the score or classifica-
    14  tion or discount  is  provided  to  the  policyholder  or  applicant  as
    15  required  by  this section. If the policyholder or applicant appeals the
    16  natural disaster risk score or other natural disaster  risk  classifica-
    17  tion  or  applicable  discount, the insurer shall acknowledge receipt of
    18  the appeal in writing within ten calendar  days  after  receipt  of  the
    19  appeal.    The  insurer  shall  respond  to the appeal in writing with a
    20  reconsideration and decision within thirty calendar days after receiving
    21  the appeal. If an appeal is denied, the insurer shall, upon  request  by
    22  the  superintendent,  forward  a  copy  of  the appeal and the insurer's
    23  response, to the superintendent.
    24    § 4. Paragraphs 12 and 13 of subsection (b) of  section  2305  of  the
    25  insurance  law, as amended by section 9 of part AAA of chapter 59 of the
    26  laws of 2017, are amended and a new paragraph 14 is  added  to  read  as
    27  follows:
    28    (12) gap insurance; [and]
    29    (13)  private  passenger  automobile  insurance, except as provided in
    30  section two thousand three hundred fifty of this article[,]; and
    31    (14) homeowners insurance or property/casualty insurance applicable to
    32  residential real property as it relates to the  inclusion  of  property-
    33  specific  mitigation  actions  and community-level mitigation actions in
    34  the calculation of such rates,
    35    § 5. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection  (d)  of  section  3425  of  the
    36  insurance law are amended to read as follows:
    37    (1) Unless the insurer, at least [forty-five] ninety but not more than
    38  [sixty]  one  hundred  twenty  days  in advance of the end of the policy
    39  period for nonrenewal or conditional renewal or the effective  date  for
    40  cancellation,  mails  or  delivers  to the named insured, at the address
    41  shown in the policy, a written notice of its intention not  to  renew  a
    42  covered  policy,  [or] to condition its renewal upon change of limits or
    43  elimination of any coverages, or to cancel the policy, the named insured
    44  shall be entitled to renew the policy upon timely payment of the premium
    45  billed to the insured for the renewal. The specific  reason  or  reasons
    46  for nonrenewal or conditioned renewal shall be stated in or shall accom-
    47  pany  the  notice.  The  specific  reason or reasons for cancellation as
    48  provided in subsection (c) of this section shall be stated in  or  shall
    49  accompany  the  notice.  This  paragraph  shall not apply when the named
    50  insured, an agent or broker authorized  by  the  named  insured,  or  an
    51  insurer  of the named insured, has mailed or delivered written notice to
    52  the insurer that the policy has been replaced or is no longer desired.
    53    (2) If an insurer has the right to cancel a policy it may, in lieu  of
    54  cancellation,  condition  continuation  of  such  policy  upon change of
    55  limits or elimination of any coverage not required by  law,  if  written
    56  notice  of  such  intention is mailed or delivered to the insured at the

        S. 8583--A                          7
 
     1  address shown in the policy at least [twenty] ninety days prior  to  the
     2  effective date of such action.
     3    §  6.  The  opening paragraph of subsection (c) of section 3426 of the
     4  insurance law, as amended by chapter 235 of the laws of 1989, is amended
     5  to read as follows:
     6    After a covered policy has  been  in  effect  for  sixty  days  unless
     7  cancelled pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or on or after the
     8  effective  date  if  such policy is a renewal, no notice of cancellation
     9  shall become effective until [fifteen] ninety days after written  notice
    10  is  mailed or delivered to the first-named insured and to such insured's
    11  authorized agent or broker, and such cancellation is  based  on  one  or
    12  more of the following:
    13    §  7.  Paragraphs  3  and  4  of subsection (a) of section 3462 of the
    14  insurance law, as added by section 1 of part BB of  chapter  56  of  the
    15  laws  of  2024,  are  amended  and a new paragraph 5 is added to read as
    16  follows:
    17    (3) The level or source of income of the tenants  of  the  residential
    18  building or the shareholders of a cooperative housing corporation; [or]
    19    (4)  Whether  such  residential  building is owned by a limited-equity
    20  cooperative; owned by a public housing authority; or owned by a  cooper-
    21  ative  housing  corporation  subject  to  the provisions of article two,
    22  article four, article five or article  eleven  of  the  private  housing
    23  finance law[.]; or
    24    (5)  The residential building is located in a disadvantaged community,
    25  as identified pursuant to section 75-0111 of the environmental conserva-
    26  tion law. An insurer who cancels, refuses to issue, refuses to renew  or
    27  increase  the  premium  of  a policy, or excludes, limits, restricts, or
    28  reduces coverage under a policy for a residential building located in  a
    29  disadvantaged  community  shall  provide  actuarial  information  to the
    30  insured or applicant to support such action.
    31    § 8. Subsection (b) of section 5402 of the insurance law,  as  amended
    32  by chapter 42 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
    33    (b)  The  association shall be governed by a board of [thirteen] twen-
    34  ty-three directors, ten of whom shall be elected annually by  cumulative
    35  voting  by  the members of the association, whose votes in such election
    36  shall be weighted in accordance with each member's net  direct  premiums
    37  written  during the preceding calendar year. An additional six directors
    38  shall be appointed annually by the legislature,  two  by  the  temporary
    39  president  of the senate, two by the speaker of the assembly, one by the
    40  minority leader of the senate and one by  the  minority  leader  of  the
    41  assembly. Four directors shall be appointed annually by the governor and
    42  two of such directors shall be representatives of consumers. The remain-
    43  ing  three  directors  shall be appointed annually by the superintendent
    44  and be duly licensed insurance agents or brokers representative of broad
    45  segments of the public obtaining insurance through the association.
    46    § 9. Subsection (g) of section 5402 of the insurance law,  as  amended
    47  by chapter 182 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
    48    (g)  In  addition  to  fire insurance, extended coverage, coverage for
    49  additional perils and homeowners  insurance  should  the  same  be  made
    50  available  through the association in accordance with a determination of
    51  necessity pursuant to section five thousand four hundred twelve of  this
    52  article,  the  association  may  offer broad form coverage to applicants
    53  seeking to insure real property at fixed locations of this state, or the
    54  tangible personal property located thereon. The  association  may  offer
    55  broad  form coverage until June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-eight. On
    56  or before October first, two thousand  twenty-seven  the  superintendent

        S. 8583--A                          8
 
     1  shall  require the association to report to the superintendent as to the
     2  number of policies written pursuant to  this  subsection  and  paragraph
     3  three  of  subsection  (f) of section five thousand four hundred five of
     4  this  article, and any other information the superintendent may require.
     5  On or before January first, two thousand twenty-eight,  and  every  four
     6  years  thereafter,  the  superintendent shall report to the governor and
     7  the legislature regarding the number of policies issued pursuant to this
     8  section and such paragraph, the geographic location  of  such  policies,
     9  the  types  of  policies  offered, the coverage limits of such policies,
    10  risk reduction investments, information on the financial standing of the
    11  association and [shall include] recommendations as to  the  continuation
    12  of such insurance offerings.
    13    §  10.  This  act  shall  take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
    14  after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,  the  addition,
    15  amendment  and/or  repeal  of  any  rule or regulation necessary for the
    16  implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized  to  be
    17  made and completed on or before such effective date.
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