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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MARCH 27, 2026 | The Indian Eye 30

Faith, Community Leaders Rally For Auto

Insurance Reform; Coalition Urges Albany

Lawmakers To Deliver Relief In State Budget

New Yorkers Paying $4,000 Per Year – Nearly Double the National Average

– As Poll Shows 86 Percent Support for Reform

OUR BUREAU
ALBANY, NY
aith and community leaders
from across New York State
Fgathered today at the State
Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase to
call on the Legislature to pass Gov-
ernor Kathy Hochul’s auto insurance
reform plan in the final State Budget
and deliver meaningful relief for driv-
ers. Speakers highlighted the Gover-
nor’s proposal to direct the state to
use the Excess Profit Law to ensure
savings from these reforms benefit
consumers before insurers.
The coalition of faith and civic
leaders noted the growing financial
burden auto insurance costs are plac-
ing on working families across the
state, particularly in communities of
color. Advocates emphasized that
New Yorkers now pay an average today’s politics, and it should send a
of roughly $4,000 per year for auto clear message to lawmakers that the
insurance – about twice the nation- time for action is now.”
al average, with premiums reaching “New Yorkers deserve a system
$5,000 to $7,000 in some areas. that works for honest drivers, not
Speakers also pointed to a re- one that forces them to pay thou-
cent poll showing 86 percent of New sands more than people in other
Yorkers support reforms aimed at states. If leaders are serious about
lowering premiums and ensuring ex- making New York more affordable,
cess insurance profits are returned to including auto insurance reform in
policyholders. At the event, coalition the final budget would be a big step
members urged lawmakers to work towards putting real money back into
with the Governor to pass reforms people’s pockets,” said Amina Idu-
that target fraud and system abuse, ma, owner of Lami African Market
increase transparency, and ensure in Nassau County.
savings are passed on to drivers. Governor Hochul has proposed
“New Yorkers are in an afford- reforms to lower auto insurance
ability crisis and paying $4,000 a year “When families are choosing be- climb into the thousands of dollars costs by cracking down on fraud, lim-
for car insurance on top of every- tween paying for car insurance and each year, that’s money that could be iting payouts for drivers engaging in
thing is simply an unsustainable bur- paying for groceries, something is going toward rent, education, or sup- unlawful behavior, and modernizing
den for working families,” said Tuu- very wrong. Addressing the auto in- porting local businesses. Reforming litigation rules. Notably, the plan
likki Robertson, Executive Director surance affordability crisis is not just this broken system is about restoring directs the state to re-examine the
of the Black Institute. “Faith leaders a common sense policy, it’s the right fairness for everyday New Yorkers.” Excess Profit Law to ensure savings
and community advocates from Buf- thing to do for the people we serve “The public is overwhelmingly on from these reforms benefit consum-
falo to Brooklyn are speaking with every day.” the side of reform,” said Rev. Conrad ers before insurers. The plan also in-
one voice: lawmakers must use this “For many working families, a Tillard, Senior Minister Congrega- creases transparency on rate changes
year’s budget to deliver real relief car isn’t a luxury – it’s how they get tional Church of South Hempstead. and rewards safe driving.
and put money back into the pockets to work, take their children to school, “Recent polling shows 86 percent of Citizens for Affordable Rates
of drivers across our state.” and care for loved ones,” said Rev. New Yorkers support efforts to bring (CAR) is a coalition of citizens, ad-
“Budget decisions reflect our val- James A. Lewis, President of Buffa- down car insurance costs and return vocates, and organizations dedicated
ues as a state,” said Rev. Dr. Robert lo/Niagara National Action Network. excess profits to policyholders. That to tackling the root causes of high
Waterman, Antioch Baptist Church. “When auto insurance premiums level of agreement is unheard of in auto insurance costs in New York.

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