On June 11, 2026, New York's Catholic bishops publicly urged Governor Kathy Hochul to veto bill A8382A, which would replace "mother" and "father" with "gestating parent" and "non-gestating parent" throughout the state's family and child-support statutes. Because the Legislature has adjourned, the reported June 12 signing deadline no longer controls — Hochul now has 30 days, and her inaction triggers an automatic pocket veto that kills the bill.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | NY Catholic bishops urged Gov. Hochul to veto bill A8382A on June 11, 2026 |
| When | Statement issued June 11, 2026; originally reported June 12 deadline no longer applies |
| Where | New York State (statewide family and child-support statutes) |
| Who's affected | All New York parents in divorce, custody, paternity, and child-support cases |
| Key statutes | N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236, N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 413 |
| Impact | Bill would swap "mother"/"father" for "gestating"/"non-gestating parent"; pending Hochul's decision |
Why this matters legally
The bishops' veto request, reported by Catholic World Report on June 11, 2026, targets terminology — not the substantive rights and obligations that govern New York divorce and child support. Bill A8382A is a statutory language amendment. It would substitute "gestating parent" and "non-gestating parent" for "mother" and "father" across the Domestic Relations Law and Family Court Act, but it does not change how courts divide marital property, calculate support, or determine custody.
The legal stakes turn on a procedural detail. New York's Constitution gives the Governor 30 days to act on a bill once the Legislature has adjourned its session. Under N.Y. Const. art. IV, § 7, a bill the Governor neither signs nor returns within that window does not become law — the opposite of the federal rule. This is the "pocket veto": Hochul's silence kills A8382A rather than enacting it. The bishops are effectively asking her to do nothing, because doing nothing now defeats the bill.
How New York law handles this
New York divorce law is already largely gender-neutral in its operative provisions, which is why a terminology bill changes labels more than outcomes. Equitable distribution under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B) divides marital property based on statutory factors — duration of marriage, each spouse's contributions, and economic circumstances — without reference to whether a party is "mother" or "father." Spousal maintenance follows the same gender-neutral formula in § 236(B)(6), which sets income-based guideline calculations regardless of a recipient's sex.
Child support runs through the Child Support Standards Act, codified at N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 413 and mirrored in N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240. The CSSA applies fixed percentages to combined parental income — 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and at least 35% for five or more — and assigns the obligation to the non-custodial parent based on income and custody, not gender. Custody itself is decided under the "best interests of the child" standard, which the Court of Appeals established in Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167 (1982), and which contains no gender preference. A8382A would rename parties in these statutes; it would not rewrite the underlying math or legal tests.
Practical takeaways
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Your existing divorce or support order is unaffected. Whether A8382A becomes law or dies by pocket veto, any judgment, custody order, or support order already entered remains fully valid and enforceable under its current terms.
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Watch the 30-day clock, not June 12. The originally reported June 12, 2026 deadline lapsed when the Legislature adjourned. Hochul's actual window runs roughly 30 days from delivery of the bill, and inaction kills it. Confirm current status on the New York State Senate bill page before relying on any deadline.
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Pending filings use today's statutory language. If you file for divorce, custody, or child support in 2026, your petition and orders will use the statutory terms in effect at filing. A label change, if enacted, would not require you to refile.
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Substantive rights stay the same either way. The bill does not alter equitable distribution, maintenance, the CSSA percentages, or the best-interests custody standard. Plan your case around the financial and custody factors in § 236 and § 413 — not the terminology debate.
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Document your parenting role regardless of labels. New York courts evaluate actual caregiving, financial contribution, and stability. Keep records of your involvement; those facts drive outcomes far more than statutory nomenclature.
Frequently asked questions
What is New York bill A8382A?
Bill A8382A is a New York legislative proposal that would replace "mother" and "father" with "gestating parent" and "non-gestating parent" in the state's family and child-support statutes. As of June 11, 2026, it awaits Governor Hochul's action and faces a possible pocket veto within 30 days.
Does a pocket veto mean the bill becomes law?
No. In New York, a pocket veto kills the bill. Under N.Y. Const. art. IV, § 7, once the Legislature adjourns, a bill the Governor neither signs nor returns within 30 days does not become law — the reverse of the federal rule, where inaction can enact a bill.
Would A8382A change how New York calculates child support?
No. Child support runs through the Child Support Standards Act at N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 413, which applies fixed income percentages (17% for one child, 25% for two) based on income and custody, not gender. A8382A changes terminology, not the support formula.
Does this bill affect custody decisions in New York?
No. New York decides custody under the "best interests of the child" standard from Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167 (1982), which contains no gender preference. A8382A would rename parties in the statutes but would not alter the legal test courts use to determine parenting arrangements.
When will Governor Hochul decide on A8382A?
Hochul has roughly 30 days from the bill's delivery to act, because the Legislature has adjourned. The originally reported June 12, 2026 deadline no longer applies. If she takes no action within that window, the bill dies by automatic pocket veto rather than becoming law.
Before you go
If you are navigating a New York divorce, custody dispute, or child-support matter in 2026, the terminology debate around A8382A should not change your strategy — the underlying law governing your case remains the same. A New York family law attorney can explain how N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236 and the CSSA apply to your specific facts.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.