Dylan Goodwin

Chairwoman DeSimone and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of HB 1323. I am a father who has experienced firsthand how a child’s relationship with a loving, involved parent can be gradually dismantled through repeated interference and negative influence, even while court proceedings are ongoing. HB 1323 addresses a real and harmful problem that too often goes unnamed and uncorrected in family court: parental alienation. For many years, I had a close and consistent relationship with my daughter, Addelin. That relationship did not end because of abuse, neglect, or danger to her. Instead, it eroded over time due to repeated obstruction of parenting time, negative messaging, and conduct that placed my child in the middle of adult conflict. What made this especially difficult is that, without a clear statutory framework, these behaviors were often treated as ordinary “parent conflict,” rather than recognized as conduct harmful to the child. As a result, intervention came late, if at all, and the damage to the parent-child relationship deepened. HB 1323 is important because it: • Provides a clear definition of parental alienation • Allows courts to recognize patterns of behavior, not just isolated incidents • Affirms that intentionally undermining a child’s relationship with a parent is harmful to the child The bill also appropriately protects parents who act in good faith to protect a child from abuse or neglect. That distinction matters. HB 1323 does not punish protective parenting—it addresses intentional conduct that is not rooted in safety and that harms a child’s emotional well-being. Children deserve the opportunity to maintain healthy relationships with both parents when safe and appropriate. HB 1323 gives courts the clarity they need to protect that principle. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to vote Ought to Pass on HB 1323. Respectfully submitted, Dylan Goodwin Sodus NY Father