Title Insurance Could Finally Come to New York Under Governor’s Budget Amendment

New York this year could become the 50^th U.S. state to accept title insurance, after Gov. Kathy Hochul quietly submitted a single paragraph in her 2026 budget amendments last week.

The proposed change “adds a provision stating the attorney general may accept a title policy from any title company licensed by the state of New York that names the people of the State of New York as insured for the acquisition of real property,” according to the governor’s budget amendment.

New York is the only state that does not accept title insurance, but it requires perfect title for land acquisitions and conservation easements, news reports indicate. That has made some real estate transactions difficult and drawn-out.

The Adirondack Explorer news site reported that land trusts have said the process has slowed their ability to conserve land. The town of North Hudson has recently spent $50,000 trying to resolve title issues at a campground site, the newspaper reported.

A bill introduced last year in the state Senate would have allowed the state to purchase title insurance.

Topics New York