New York Senate Bill S10213

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/6/26
• Refer: 5/6/26

Caption

Provides that electronic notice to a party is sufficient in certain workers' compensation claims.

Summary

S10213 would expand the use of electronic delivery for notices and documents in certain property/casualty insurance transactions and in a specific workers’ compensation context. The bill amends the insurance law to clarify that notices or documents required under that chapter, or under paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 54 of the workers’ compensation law, may be delivered electronically if the delivery complies with the state technology law’s electronic notice requirements. It also states that when the insurance law otherwise requires notice to be mailed or delivered to an address shown in the policy, the notice may instead be sent to an electronic address even if that address is not listed in the policy. The bill further amends the workers’ compensation law to provide that an electronic notice meeting the insurance law’s standards will be sufficient for the relevant workers’ compensation purpose. In practical terms, this creates a cross-reference between the two laws so that electronic notice under the insurance statute can satisfy the workers’ compensation notice requirement as well. The act would take effect immediately.

Impact

The bill would modify section 3458 of the insurance law and paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 54 of the workers’ compensation law. Its main legal effect is to authorize and validate electronic notice as an acceptable method of service in covered property/casualty insurance matters and in the specified workers’ compensation claims context, reducing reliance on paper mail and expanding the circumstances in which insurers and related parties can use email or other electronic delivery methods. It would affect insurers, policyholders, claimants, and workers’ compensation administrators by making electronic communications legally sufficient when they meet state technology law standards.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the measure appears largely procedural and administrative rather than controversial. Its purpose is to modernize notice delivery and align insurance and workers’ compensation practices with electronic communication methods. There is no available evidence of opposition or support statements, but the bill’s framing suggests a generally practical, efficiency-oriented approach.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is whether electronic notice provides adequate proof of receipt and sufficient consumer protection compared with traditional mailed notice, especially for workers’ compensation claimants or policyholders who may have limited access to email or other electronic systems. Another possible issue is the bill’s allowance for delivery to an electronic address not specified in the policy, which could raise questions about notice reliability and whether parties have clearly consented to electronic service. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the available record.