As the state Legislature session winds down, the fight to allow ride-hailing companies to operate in New York is focused on setting insurance terms for drivers. Assemblyman John McDonald, said Wednesday he thinks the Legislature is close to agreement on the insurance issue but not broader regulation of services like Uber and Lyft. “I think that is going to happen with the insurance piece,” he said. “Higher thresholds will be put on ride sharing.”

The Assembly version of the legislation would require ride-hailing service drivers to carry a $1.5 million insurance policy whenever riders are in the car. When the car was not being used by the service, the driver must be covered up to $100,000 per person for injury or death and $300,000 per incident. The Senate version of the bill, which was moved out of committee Wednesday, requires a $1 million policy for when the car is transporting passengers and coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident when not in service.

All New York drivers are required to have minimum coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident. In New York City, cab drivers are also required to carry minimum coverage of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident for when the cabs are in service. Read more….

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• Bhairavi Desai, executive director of NY Taxi Workers Alliance, center, speaks out against opt-out insurance plan for ride-hailing apps.