In this issue ...

• NYC Council Introduces Legislation to Establish Office of Insurance Accountability
• DFS Provides Insights on DFS ID
• DFS Adopts Amendments on Repeal of Anti-Arson Application
• DFS Proposes Amendments on Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing 
• DMV Commissioner to Retire Effective April 30
• WCB to Propose Regulation to Allow for Paying Without Accepting Liability
• WCB Announces Electronic Submission to Offset Billing Disputes
• Bills on the Move

NYC Council Introduces Legislation to Establish Office of Insurance Accountability

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin has formally introduced Int 0685-2026, which would establish an office of insurance accountability. The Speaker previously stated her intentions to sponsor such legislation and enact additional transparency measures on carriers. This bill would establish an Office of Insurance Accountability within the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The Office will be authorized to provide information on types of insurance and issue generalized guidance for consumers on selecting insurance plans; track legal actions alleging deceptive, fraudulent, or other unfair practices by insurance companies and alert the public to relevant findings; conduct an annual study and issue reports on the cost of insurance and the factors that contribute to the cost of insurance; provide recommendations relating to stabilizing or lowering insurance costs; and create a unit to assist consumers in resolving insurance-related issues. NYIA will continue to monitor this legislation and any other developments coming out of New York City.

DFS Provides Insights on DFS ID

NYIA has contacted DFS regarding accessing to and navigating DFS ID. DFS has informed us that a company’s government relations contact will likely be the DFS ID entity administrator and the person who was contacted to set up the account. They also mentioned that additional users can be added to perform administrator functions upon approval by the entity administrator. For any questions, companies are encouraged to contact their DFS point of contact or the DFS staff member with whom they primarily communicate or use the DFS ID Help Form to request assistance. DFS has also released a frequently asked questions section on the DFSID webpage. If you have any further questions, please contact Staci Steinfeld at ssteinfeld@nyia.org.

DFS Adopts Amendments on Repeal of Anti-Arson Application

DFS has adopted the regulation that repealed references to the anti-arson application. The adoption comes in response to chapter 439 of the laws of 2025 which repealed the statutory provisions for the anti-arson application. As a reminder, the law took effect immediately, on October 16, 2025; the applications were not mandatory after that date.

DFS Proposes Amendments on Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing

DFS has proposed amendments to 11 NYCRR 60 on peer-to-peer car sharing programs. The amendments align the current statute to chapter 696 of the laws of 2025, which was signed last year (A6576B Weprin/S5941B Skoufis) and has undergone chapter amendment 69 of the laws of 2026 (A9508 Weprin/S8786 Skoufis). Comments can be submitted to Joana Lucashuk at joana.lucashuk@dfs.ny.gov until Monday, May 4. If you would like NYIA to comment on your behalf, please contact Staci Steinfeld at ssteinfeld@nyia.org by Friday, April 24.

DMV Commissioner to Retire Effective April 30

DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder will be retiring after more than seven years of service. Commissioner Schroeder’s last day will be April 30. The Governor has not announced a new appointment to replace Commissioner Schroeder, but NYIA will notify members when any information becomes available.

WCB to Propose Regulation to Allow for Payment Without Accepting Liability

Governor Kathy Hochul signed an amendment to Workers’ Compensation Law Section 21-a last year to allow payers to provisionally pay for medical care under this section without admitting liability. This law takes effect January 1, 2027, and the WCB will be proposing regulations to conform the current regulation to the statute. NYIA will update members when it is formally proposed and published in the State Register. Currently the information has been communicated by email. If you would like a copy of the email, please contact Staci Steinfeld at ssteinfeld@nyia.org.

WCB Announces Electronic Submission to Offset Billing Disputes

As part of the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) CMS-1500 electronic submission mandate, providers were instructed they may offset the cost of each electronic CMS-1500 bill submission, up to a maximum of one dollar, by using CPT code 99080. The WCB has underscored that payers who do not properly reimburse providers for CPT code 99080 may be subject to penalties. Effective March 31, 2026, in situations where the bill for services/treatment was paid or paid in part, but the offset code was not, providers may submit a Request for Decision on Unpaid Medical Bill(s) (Form HP-1.0). The WCB may issue an administrative award on the payer for failure to pay the offset, including a $50 penalty for each instance of nonpayment for which a Form HP-1.0 is submitted, per WCL §13-g. For payers, if the only code on a bill they are objecting to is 99080, the payer should note this objection in the Explanation of Benefits. If you have any questions, please contact CMS1500@wcb.ny.gov, or visit wcb.ny.gov/CMS-1500.

Bills on the Move

Several bills progressed through the legislature this week. If you have any questions on these pieces of legislation, please contact Staci at ssteinfeld@nyia.org.

Passed Assembly

Power Surge Coverage (A1062 Lunsford/S8920 Cooney) Provides that service contract coverage for power surges and accidental damage from handling is primary coverage that may begin on the date a covered device is purchased.

• No movement in Senate.

Safety Checks for Charter Buses (A9259 Magnarelli/S8691 Cooney) Requires that passengers on charter buses equipped with seatbelts are given a safety briefing informing them of the NYS law requiring their use.

• Poised for a vote in the Senate.

Passed Senate

Risk Retention Groups for For-Hire Vehicles (S51 Comrie) Allows insurance coverage by a risk retention group for commuter vans, pre-arranged for-hire vehicles, and accessible vehicles. NYIA opposes.

Increasing Pre-Authorization Limit for Workers Compensation (A3127 Lunsford/S6217 Fernandez) Allows for treatment costing less than $1,500 to be conducted without prior approval, and allows non-network providers of testing to be compensated at the provider network rate negotiated by the carrier. NYIA opposes.

• No movement in Assembly.

Reported from Committee and Poised for a Vote

Study on Battery Fires (A5100 O’Pharrow/S257 Martinez) Authorizes a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention to review the severity of lithium-ion battery fires.

• Senate bill poised for a vote
• No movement in Assembly

New York Junk Fee Prevention Act (A6663A Lee/S363A Gianaris) Requires sellers to indicate the total price of a good or service including mandatory fees. NYIA opposes.

• Senate bill poised for a vote
• No movement in Assembly

Code Violation Repairs (A5641 Hunter/S1838 Skoufis) Creates a pilot emergency repair program to allow cities to directly address hazardous code violations where the owner has not undertaken repairs.

• Senate bill poised for a vote
• No movement in Assembly

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Program (S3560 Cleare) Establishes a safety program to provide new lithium-ion batteries at reduced cost or no cost to eligible individuals.

• Senate bill poised for a vote