New York Seduces People Back to State by Decriminalizing Adultery

Adultery is officially no longer a crime in the state of New York. In a bold move to seduce people back to the Empire State, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Friday repealing a 177-year-old state law that criminalized infidelity. Under the now-abolished statute, which dates back to 1907, the cheater could spend 90 days in "the Slammer."

With New York leading the nation in outmigration in 2023, the state seems willing to throw marital fidelity to the wind to stop the exodus. (Disclaimer: the repeal is real. The motivation is under investigation)

(Gothamist) Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Friday repealing a 117-year-old state law that criminalized adultery, which had been a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail.

In a statement, the governor said it was “somewhat ironic” that she signed the bill, given her 40-year marriage to her husband. But she said she understood people “often have complex relationships.”

“These matters should clearly be handled by these individuals and not our criminal justice system,” Hochul said. “Let’s take this silly, outdated statute off the books, once and for all.”

New York had been one of 17 states that considered adultery a crime, at least on paper. It now becomes at least the fifth state to have repealed such a law since 2015.

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