NYC Gazette

The New York State Assembly has recently passed a significant piece of legislation aimed at protecting consumers from unnecessary insurance charges following the death of a spouse. Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember David Weprin led the announcement of this milestone.

Heastie emphasized the importance of the new legislation, stating, “The last thing on your mind during the event of a death in the family or a divorce is changing your auto insurance coverage.” He further explained that with the provision of yearly notifications regarding spousal coverage, consumers can make informed decisions about their insurance without incurring extra costs.

Weprin echoed Heastie's sentiments, highlighting the transparency that this amendment brings to supplemental spousal liability insurance requirements. He stated, “This bill is another great step toward protecting consumers all across the state.”

The bill focuses on ensuring that only insured drivers with spouses receive supplemental spousal liability insurance automatically. It also grants all insured drivers the option to purchase this coverage upon request. Furthermore, insurers are mandated to inform policyholders about the inclusion or availability of supplemental spousal liability coverage during policy issuance, renewal, or any amendments.

The passing of this legislation, labeled as A9407 and sponsored by Assemblymember Weprin, is a significant move towards safeguarding New Yorkers from paying for insurance coverage they may not require.