Staff Reports
New York’s Legislature just finished a stunt that sounds like it came from a university seminar, not a statehouse. Lawmakers approved a bill that replaces plain words like “mother” and “father” with terms such as “gestating parent” and “non‑gestating parent.” The change cleared both houses and now sits with Governor Kathy Hochul, who will decide whether to sign a law that rewrites decades of family language across state statutes.
What the bill actually changes
The measure — filed as Senate Bill S9316 with an Assembly companion A8382/A8382A — swaps gendered terms across many state codes. Where statutes once said “mother” or “father,” the new text inserts “gestating parent,” “non‑gestating parent,” “parent,” “parentage” instead of “paternity,” and “alleged parent” instead of “putative father.” Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin put the bill forward as a broad editing project for family court, domestic relations, civil practice, education law, and other statutes. If it becomes law, the bill itself sets an effective date on the first day of November after enactment.
Supporters call it modernization
Backers say this is legal housekeeping. They point to the Child‑Parent Security Act and recent advances in surrogacy and assisted reproduction. Those laws and court practices already recognize families formed in new ways, so advocates argue the language should match the world today. In plain English: the sponsors say the state needs gender‑neutral terms to cover same‑sex couples, adoptive parents, and surrogacy arrangements without confusion in court forms and statutes.
Opponents say it’s political theater and bad priorities
Plenty of critics see something different. Chairman Gerard Kassar of the Conservative Party called it “woke culture run amok.” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and others called the move an attack on “Mom” and “Dad” and a waste of time when New Yorkers face high taxes, rising crime, and costly bills. Republican State Senator Patricia Canzoneri‑Fitzpatrick voted no and warned lawmakers should focus on safety and affordability rather than scrubbing familiar words. Even Representative Wesley Hunt flagged the change on social media, making the point that this will be used as a campaign talking point — and he’s right.
The governor’s choice and what comes next
Both houses have now cleared the same text and the bill will be presented to Governor Kathy Hochul. She can sign it, veto it, or let it become law under whatever timetable state rules set. If signed, the legal renaming will take effect the following November, and state forms and court captions will begin using the new phrases. This is not a subtle policy tweak; it’s a symbolic signal about what Albany values. Voters should watch whether the governor stands with everyday families who use ordinary words, or with a legislature that thought editing the dictionary was higher priority than fixing real problems.
