A new bill passed by the New York state legislature on Tuesday is heading to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk, and it seeks to switch language in several laws to so-called “gender neutral language.” Should Hochul sign off, “mother” and “father” would be switched to “gestating” and “non-gestating” parent, respectively, and “paternity” and “filiation” would be changed to “parentage.” For the purpose of family court proceedings, “putative father,” the purported father of a child, would be changed to “alleged parent.” The Democratic-controlled Assembly first passed the amendment in March, and the state Senate gave its approval on Tuesday.
Now, Hochul has 10 days to either sign the changes into law or veto the legislation. If approved, the changes would take effect Nov. 1.
If signed by Hochul, the bill would revise parental terminology across multiple sections of New York law but would not alter existing parental rights, obligations, or family court.
Empire State Democrats argue the measure modernizes New York law to reflect the realities of same-sex couples, adoptive families, surrogacy arrangements, and other family structures recognized in the state. The bill’s sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Luis Sepulveda of the Bronx, has argued that the changes are intended to align statutory language with existing court decisions and family practices.
