File #: Int 0685-2026    Version: * Name: Establishing an office of insurance accountability.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
On agenda: 2/24/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of insurance accountability
Sponsors: Julie Menin, Gale A. Brewer
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would establish an Office of Insurance Accountability. The office would 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 that harm consumers who purchase or seek to purchase insurance products 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, headed by an insurance accountability advocate.
Indexes: Other Appointment Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No., 2. Int. No., 3. February 24, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No.

 

By The Speaker (Council Member Menin) and Council Member Brewer

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of insurance accountability

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 64 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 2204 to read as follows:

§ 2204. Office of insurance accountability. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Director. The term “director” means the director of insurance accountability.

Office. The term “office” means the office of insurance accountability.

b. Establishment of office. The mayor shall establish an office of insurance accountability within the department of consumer and worker protection. Such office shall be headed by a director of insurance accountability, who shall be appointed by the mayor. The powers and duties of the office and the director may apply to any type of insurance except for health insurance.

c. Powers and duties. The director shall have the power and duty to:

1. Provide, on the office’s website in a simplified and publicly accessible format, information on types of insurance and generalized guidance for consumers on selecting insurance plans;

2. Track legal actions alleging deceptive, fraudulent, or other unfair practices by insurance companies that harm consumers who purchase or seek to purchase insurance products, and publicize legal developments that may be relevant to members of the public who purchase or seek to purchase insurance;

3. Study and report on the cost of insurance and the factors that contribute to the cost of insurance, in accordance with subdivision d; and

4. Provide recommendations to the mayor, council, comptroller, and relevant state and federal entities regarding legislation and policies to stabilize or lower insurance costs.

d. Study and report. 1. The office shall conduct an annual study on the cost of insurance and the factors that contribute to the cost of insurance. As part of such study, the office shall conduct public hearings, consult with experts, and do other research as necessary.

2. No later than 1 year from the effective date of the local law that added this section and annually thereafter, the director shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and shall post on the office’s website, a report detailing insurance cost trends and factors that contribute to the cost of insurance. Such report shall include a summary of study findings pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subdivision. The report shall also include recommendations for legislation and policies to stabilize or lower insurance costs.

e. Insurance accountability advocate. Within the office there shall be a unit that provides consumers with assistance in resolving insurance-related issues. The unit shall be headed by an insurance accountability advocate. Such advocate shall be appointed by the mayor or the director and shall be under the supervision of the director.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 240 days after it becomes law.

HK

LS #21353

2/19/2026 10:10 AM