New York dog owners are encouraged to contact the Senate Insurance Committee TODAY in support of S. 8315, which would provide further protections against breed discrimination in homeowners insurance. The committee will be considering the bill on Monday, March 7. Scroll down for contact information.
Summary:
In 2021, a new law supported by AKC was enacted in New York that prohibits insurers from refusing to issue, renew or cancel or raise premiums for homeowner’s insurance based on breed of dog (or mixed-breed) owned by the policyholder.
Senate Bill 8315 seeks to expand this law by stating that once a policy is provided, the insurance company may not exclude, limit, restrict, or reduce the coverage under the policy based on the breed of dog owned by the policy holder.
New York state law already expressly prohibits municipalities from passing laws that target specific breeds of dogs. The new law, combined with S. 8315, extend these protections to homeowners who are responsible dog owners, while still holding all dog owners accountable, regardless of the breed they choose to own.
Visit www.akcgr.org/bsl for more talking points on this issue.
What You Can Do:
Contact the members of the Senate Insurance Committee before the hearing on Monday, March 7, at 12:30 pm. Respectfully ask them to support Senate Bill 8315. If you are a constituent of a committee member, use the form provided and be sure to mention you are a constituent when contacting them.
Otherwise, use the contact information below:
Sen. Neil Breslin, Chair (Dist. 44- Albany)
Phone: (518) 455-2225
breslin@nysenate.gov
Sen. John Brooks (Dist. 8 – Massapequa)
Phone: (518) 455-2765
District Phone: (516)882-0630
brooks@nysenate.gov
Sen. Jeremy Cooney (Dist. 56- Rochester)
Phone: (518)455-2909
District Phone: (585)225-3650
cooney@nysenate.gov
Sen. Andrew Gounardis (Dist. 22 – Brooklyn)
Phone: (518)455-3270
District Phone: (718)238-6044
Sen. Pete Harckham (Dist. 40 – Peeskill)
Phone: (518)455-2340
District Phone: (914)241-4600
Sen. Pamela Helming (Dist. 54- Geneva)
Phone: (518)455-2366
District Phone: (315)568-9816
Sen. Timothy Kennedy (Dist. 63- Buffalo)
Phone: (518)455-2426
District Phone: (716)826-2683
Sen. Thomas O’Mara (Dist. 58- Elmira)
Phone: (518)455-2091
District Phone: (607)735-9671(518)455-2580
Sen. Kevin Parker (Dist. 21- Brooklyn)
Phone: (518)455-2580
District Phone: (718)629-6420
Sen. James Sanders, Jr. (Dist. 10 – Queens)
Phone: (518)455-3531
District Phone: (718)523-3069
Sen. Sue Serino (Dist. 41- Hyde Park)
Phone: (518)455-2945
District Phone: (845)229-0106
AKC Government Relations will continue to closely follow this bill and all legislation impacting dog owners in New York. For questions or more information, contact the AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org