Adultery is now legal in New York, but still a crime in 16 states

New York has officially turned the page on a 117-year-old chapter in its legal history by decriminalising adultery.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill repealing an old law that treated infidelity as a class B misdemeanour, punishable by up to 90 days in jail.

The decision, made on Friday, marks a historic move following decades of debate and overwhelming support in the state legislature.

The law, originally introduced to deter divorces, has now been abolished, marking a progressive approach in New York’s stance on personal freedoms.

Governor Kathy Hochul, the state’s first happily married governor in nearly 20 years, as the Post describes, signed the bill to repeal the 1907 statute.

Her three predecessors all faced extramarital scandals, with their marriages ultimately ending in divorce.

“While I’ve been fortunate to share a loving married life with my husband for 40 years — making it somewhat ironic for me to sign a bill decriminalising adultery — I know that people often have complex relationships,” she said in a statement.

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 Let’s take this silly, outdated statute off the books, once and for all.”