New York Assembly Passed Gender-Neutral Parenting Bill
The state legislation replaces gendered terms in family law to establish more inclusive legal definitions.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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In March 2026, the New York State Assembly passed legislation to replace the terms mother and father with gestating parent and non-gestating parent in family law. The measure, which also updates paternity to parentage, was subsequently cleared by the state Senate in June 2026.
Why it matters
The bill represents a shift toward gender-neutral language within state legal statutes to reflect modern definitions of parenthood. The measure currently awaits action from Governor Kathy Hochul, who may choose to sign or veto the proposal.
The bill, designated S9316/A8382A, amends established family law by removing gender-specific references. It passed the Assembly with support from the chamber's Democrat supermajority.
The players
Kathy Hochul
She is the Governor of New York and holds the authority to sign or veto the legislation passed by the state legislature.
Chuck Lavine
He serves as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and has represented the 13th Assembly District since 2005.
The details
The bill moved out of the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Assemblyman Chuck Lavine, before advancing to the floor for a vote. It seeks to modernize legal language surrounding parentage throughout the state of New York.
Timeline
Chuck Lavine began representing the 13th Assembly District in 2005.
The Assembly passed the gender-neutral parenting bill in March 2026.
The New York state Senate cleared the legislation in June 2026.
Political Context
The bill updates definitions within the New York State Family Court Act to replace gendered roles with inclusive parentage terms. Critics of such legislation often argue that established legal terminology should remain unchanged to preserve traditional interpretations of parental rights.
If signed into law, the bill will standardize gender-neutral language across state family court documents and legal proceedings. This change will affect how parents are identified in official state records and custody matters.
The takeaway
This legislation marks a deliberate effort to align New York state statutes with gender-neutral terminology. Residents should monitor the Governor's office for a final decision on whether these definitions will be formally codified into law.
Further reading
For more on state-level legal shifts, visit the Legislative Policy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Breitbart.
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Should state laws retain traditional mother and father labels rather than adopting gender-neutral language?
