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NY Passes Gender-Neutral Family Court Bill, Awaits Signature

6/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

New York lawmakers passed a bill to replace gendered language in the Family Court Act, now awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.
The bill introduces “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent,” changes “paternity” and “filiation” to “parentage,” replaces “putative father” with “alleged parent.”
A January 2025 report by the New York Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee recommended the changes to protect children’s interests and to include surrogacy, adoption, and same-sex parenting.

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Story summary

New York lawmakers passed a bill to replace gendered language in the Family Court Act, now awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.
The bill introduces “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent,” changes “paternity” and “filiation” to “parentage,” replaces “putative father” with “alleged parent.”
A January 2025 report by the New York Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee recommended the changes to protect children’s interests and to include surrogacy, adoption, and same-sex parenting.