New York A 9228: Enacts the "homeowner defense and anti-deed theft act"

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A09228 Summary:

BILL NOA09228 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORZinerman

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COSPNSRCunningham

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §170-k, Exec L; add §§96-a & 96-b, St Fin L

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Enacts the "homeowner defense and anti-deed theft act" in relation to establishing a homeowner defense and anti-deed theft program within the department of state for the purpose of defending homeowners against deed theft; establishes the county recording modernization fund and the title defense litigation fund.

Go to top A09228 Actions:

BILL NOA09228 

&nbsp

11/03/2025referred to codes

01/07/2026referred to codes

Go to topA09228 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09228 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09228 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9228

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 November 3, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
 tee on Codes

 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the home-
 owner defense and anti-deed theft program to provide community-based
 legal aid and rapid-response services for victims of deed theft and
 fraudulent property transfers; and to amend the state finance law, in
 relation to establishing the county recording modernization fund and
 the title defense litigation fund

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "homeowner defense and anti-deed theft act".
 3 § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that deed
 4 theft and fraudulent property transfers threaten the security of
 5 homeownership and erode generational wealth in New York State. Seniors,
 6 immigrants, and Black and brown homeowners are disproportionately
 7 targeted by predatory actors who exploit gaps in the legal system.
 8 While recent legislation expanded the attorney general's powers and
 9 created new criminal penalties, victims often lack access to timely and
 10 affordable legal representation. Without rapid intervention, families
 11 lose their homes, neighborhoods destabilize, and community wealth is
 12 permanently stripped.
 13 It is therefore the intent of this act, the "homeowner defense and
 14 anti-deed theft act", to:
 15 1. Establish a permanent statewide program of legal aid to defend
 16 homeowners against deed theft.
 17 2. Create regional title defense hubs and satellite clinics to ensure
 18 equitable access across urban, suburban, and rural communities.
 19 3. Provide proactive estate planning and heirs' property counseling to
 20 reduce vulnerability.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13724-02-5

 A. 9228 2

 1 4. Strengthen coordination between legal aid providers, the attorney
 2 general, and local district attorneys.
 3 5. Preserve family homes, stabilize neighborhoods, and protect genera-
 4 tional wealth.
 5 § 3. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 170-k to
 6 read as follows:
 7 § 170-k. Homeowner defense and anti-deed theft program. 1. There is
 8 hereby established within the department of state a homeowner defense
 9 and anti-deed theft program for the purpose of defending homeowners
 10 against deed theft. Such program shall be established in consultation
 11 with the attorney general.
 12 2. The department of state, in consultation with the attorney general,
 13 shall establish regional title defense hubs and satellite clinics to
 14 ensure access by New Yorkers to lawyers and advocates statewide when
 15 their homes are threatened by deed theft or fraudulent property trans-
 16 fers. Such title defense hubs shall provide equitable access to lawyers
 17 and advocates across urban, suburban, and rural communities in the
 18 state.
 19 3. Such program shall fund nonprofit legal services providers and
 20 community-based organizations to litigate deed theft cases, void fraudu-
 21 lent deeds, defend foreclosures, and provide estate planning services
 22 and heirs' property counseling to reduce vulnerability to deed theft.
 23 4. Emergency filings and case expenses related to the h