As Gov. Kathy Hochul considers a bill that would expand New York's wrongful death statute to cover emotional anguish, an effort to have her veto the legislation is underway. 

The proposal is meant to update the state's wrongful death law to cover emotional losses for when a loved one or relative dies. Similar measures are already on the books in Arkansas, Florida and Michigan. 

Previously, business organizations in New York raised concerns with the legislation over the potential increase in insurance costs created by the provisions. On Monday, the organizations that represent towns, counties, villages and cities in New York called for Hochul to reject the bill as well. 

The New York State Association of Counties, New York State Conference of Mayors and Association of Towns pointed to similar concerns being raised by business groups: If approved, an expansion of wrongful death statutes would generate more lawsuits and increase legal and insurance costs for local governments. 

“Municipalities are among the top targets for lawsuits in New York state," the groups wrote in the letter to Hochul. "The costs imposed by settlements, judgments, and defense fees inhibit municipalities’ ability to provide crucial services to residents."

The groups said taxes could be raised and services cut if the costs borne by lawsuits become too much to handle. 

"This legislation would dramatically increase costs for municipalities of all sizes across New York by radically expanding the damages recoverable in wrongful death actions to include pain and suffering," the grops wrote. "Such non-pecuniary damages are notoriously difficult to determine objectively and are prone to manipulation by plaintiffs’ attorneys who seek to emotionally sway judges and juries."