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NYS Passes Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act

December 22, 2025

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of parent advocates, advocacy organizations, legal defense, and a diverse coalition across the state, Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law new protections to curb false allegations to the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR).

With the passage of the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act, New York now joins Texas as the only states in the nation to ban anonymous calls that often lead to unjust and intrusive investigations of innocent families by Child Protective Services (CPS).

The new law, championed by the Parent Legislative Action Network (PLAN), intends to discourage the egregious actions of disgruntled individuals who deliberately and repeatedly flood the hotline with baseless accusations to torment former partners, influence custody battles, or otherwise intimidate families in response to personal grievances, such as tenant-landlord disputes. Parents placed under investigation because of anonymous report are more than twice as likely to e cleared of any wrongdoing as parents investigated because of other reporting types.

In a shift away from allowing anonymous reports, under the new provisions, all callers to the NYS hotline must provide their name and contact information if they want to make an allegation of child maltreatment. All calls are already confidential and never shared with the subject of the call. However, removing anonymous reports lowers the likelihood that the SCR will be weaponized by bad actors.

“This important legislation will protect children and families from unwarranted, invasive—at times traumatic—investigations,” said Chris Gottlieb, assistant professor of law at New York University. “Far too often, policymakers underestimate the severe distress caused by government surveillance and intrusion, which is imposed primarily on families of color. Anonymous reporting opened the door to those who seek to harass families by calling in false reports. The parent activists who called for change and bill sponsors deserve enormous credit for taking on this longstanding problem.”

“We applaud Governor Hochul, Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, Senator Jabari Brisport, and all of the bill co-sponsors who heard the emotional accounts of parents deeply affected by malicious allegations made by anonymous sources and took appropriate action,” said Jessica Maxwell, RHF executive director. “This change will improve reporting integrity and spare thousands of families from unnecessary harm. It is a step in the right direction to ensuring families remain intact and child welfare interventions focus on true safety concerns.”

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Category: Influence

Tags: The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, JMAC for Families

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