NY State Senate Bill 2025-S9151

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 06, 2026	referred to insurance

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9272
Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Add Art 92 §§9201 - 9204, Ins L

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Places limitations and requirements on the use of aerial images by insurers.

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9151

SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to the use of aerial
images by insurers

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure consumer protections and
best practices with regard to property insurance as they relate to
advancing aerial technologies used to determine policy renewals and
ratesetting

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the insurance law by adding a new article that states
the legislative purpose, defines terms, and requires that nonrenewal
notices include copies of the photos of the property with specific
conditions as to why the nonrenewal decision was reached. Also requires
an appeal process, point of contact, that consumers be allowed to remedy

the cause of a nonrenewal, and that insurers shall offer a renewal poli-
cy should proof be submitted that the defect or condition identified by
the insurance company has been remedied in a timely fashion.

Section 2 establishes an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Property insurance companies have always done property inspections as
part of the underwriting process when you purchase or renew a policy.
As the technology has become cheaper and more accessible, many have
taken to deploying remotely controlled drone cameras to aid in this
process. These drones allow insurers to have a birds-eye view of the
property, allowing them to inspect property conditions they might not
otherwise see, such as roof damage or debris buildup. Aerial imaging
also allows insurers to verify policy details, monitor claims, and
assess storm damage quickly.

Unfortunately, the use of aerial imaging can pose issues for the policy-
holder. Aerial imaging may not always be accurate. For example, if an
aerial image were to be taken of a property's roof and it had rained the
night before, the roof may be wet in one area, which from above may look
like roof damage. As another example, shadows cast on a roof by a nearby
tree may obscure a property and make it appear as though it is damaged.
In other cases, aerial imaging may reveal an issue the property owner
was not aware of to begin with. Erroneously analyzed aerial images can
be used by insurance companies to justify non-renewal of policy or dras-
tic increases in monthly payments.

This bill would require insurers to include date-stamped images of the
property that show the specific conditions that are out of compliance
with the insurer's underwriting guidelines and what steps the property
owner can take to reverse a non-renewal decision with a non-renewal
notice. These images must have been taken within the last 12 months, The
legislation also requires insurers to establish an appeals process,
which can be completed after proper notice has been given to the proper-
ty owner, and a way for property owners to provide documentation of the
completion of required work. Such work must be completed within an
established timeline. The insurance provider must use the provided
documentation when considering whether to uphold or reverse a non-rene-
wal.

Several other states have already recognized the potential problems
posed by drone aerial imaging and have responded by introducing legis-
lation regulating the use of aerial imaging by insurance companies.

Similar legislation is also being considered for endorsement by the
National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL).

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

NEW BILL

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9151
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 6, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
 
 AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation  to  the  use  of  aerial
   images by insurers
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The insurance law is amended by adding a new article 92  to
 read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 92
                           USE OF AERIAL IMAGES
 SECTION 9201. LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE.
         9202. DEFINITIONS.
         9203. INSURERS' USE OF AERIAL IMAGES.
         9204. RULES.
   §  9201.  LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO HONOR
 CONSUMER'S TRADITIONAL RIGHTS WITH REGARD TO PROPERTY INSURANCE  IN  THE
 FACE OF ADVANCING AERIAL TECHNOLOGIES.
   §  9202.  DEFINITIONS.  AS  USED  IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "AERIAL IMAGE" MEANS  AN  IMAGE  OF  A  NAMED  INSURED'S  PROPERTY
 CAPTURED FROM AN AIRBORNE PLATFORM.
   (B)  "NON-RENEWAL"  MEANS A TERMINATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE COVERAGE
 THAT OCCURS AT THE END OF THE POLICY TERM.
   (C) "RENEWAL" MEANS:
   (1) THE ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY BY AN INSURER AT THE  END  OF  A  POLICY
 PERIOD  OF A POLICY SUPERSEDING A POLICY PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AND DELIVERED
 BY THE SAME INSURER; OR
   (2) THE ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY OF A CERTIFICATE OR NOTICE EXTENDING THE
 TERM OF AN EXISTING POLICY BEYOND ITS POLICY PERIOD OR TERM.
   § 9203. INSURERS' USE OF AERIAL IMAGES. WHEN UTILIZING  AERIAL  IMAGES
 AS PART OF ITS COVERAGE DETERMINATIONS, AN INSURER SHALL:
   (A)  ENSURE  THAT  A NON-RENEWAL NOTICE INCLUDE COPIES OF DATE-STAMPED
 IMAGES OF THE PROPERTY THAT SHOW THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THAT ARE OUT OF
 COMPLIANCE WITH THE INSURER'S UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES AND WHAT STEPS THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD13852-02-5
 S. 9151                             2
 
 PROPERTY OWNER CAN TAKE TO REVERSE THE INSURER'S DECISION.  PHOTOS  MUST
 HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITHIN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS.
   (B)  ESTABLISH  A POINT OF CONTACT AND A PROCESS FOR CURRENTLY INSURED
 PROPERTY OWNERS TO USE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION  OF  COMPLETION  OF  THE
 REQUIRED  WORK  THAT THE INSURER COMMUNICATES TO THE INSURED PURSUANT TO
 SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. SUCH DOCUMENTATION SHALL BE USED BY  THE
 INSURER IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO UPHOLD OR REVERSE THE NON-RENEWAL.
   (C) ESTABLISH AN APPEAL PROCESS SO THE CONSUMER CAN CORRECT ANY ERRORS
 OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS RELATED TO THE NON-RENEWAL.
   (D)  PROVIDE  THE  NAMED  INSURED A TIME PERIOD CONSISTENT WITH NOTICE
 REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION THREE THOUSAND  FOUR  HUNDRED  TWENTY-
 FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER TO CURE THE DEFECTS/CONDITIONS UNDERLYING A NON-RE-
 NEWAL  FROM THE DATE THE INSURER IDENTIFIES THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.  AN
 INSURER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASSESS THE WORK USED TO CORRECT  DEFECTS
 TO  DETERMINE AND ENSURE THEY HAVE BEEN CORRECTED IN A MANNER THAT MEETS
 THE STANDARDS ORIGINALLY COMMUNICATED BY THE INSURER IN  SUBSECTION  (A)
 OF  THIS  SECTION.  SHOULD  THE  INSURER DETERMINE THAT THE WORK DID NOT
 CORRECT THE DEFECTS, THE INSURER SHALL NOTIFY THE NAMED INSURED THAT THE
 NON-RENEWAL SHALL BE UPHELD.
   (E) OFFER A RENEWAL POLICY TO A CONSUMER WHO SUBMITS PROOF  THAT  THEY
 HAVE  CURED  THE DEFECTS OR CONDITIONS IDENTIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION
 (A) OF THIS SECTION. PROVIDED HOWEVER, AN  INSURER  MAY  CHOOSE  NOT  TO
 RENEW  THE  POLICY  IN  QUESTION  AFTER DEFECTS OR CONDITIONS IDENTIFIED
 PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION HAVE BEEN CURED, BUT ONLY FOR
 A REASON UNRELATED TO SUCH DEFECTS OR CONDITIONS.
   § 9204. RULES. THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 2.  This act shall take effect on  the  one  hundred  eightieth  day
 after  it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
 amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary  for  the
 implementation  of  this  act on its effective date are authorized to be
 made and completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S9151

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Actions

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Jamaal T. Bailey

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Actions

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9151 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments