Add protections to NY bill ending anonymous child abuse reporting (Your Letters)

To the Editor:

Syracuse.com’s editorial board and other statewide news outlets have called upon Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation to end anonymous reporting of child abuse to the state hotline, and instead require callers provide their names on a confidential basis ( “Stop anonymous callers who are weaponizing NY’s child abuse hotline,” Sept. 28, 2025). We agree with the goal of the legislation and offer some added recommendations to ensure the legislation protects all potential callers.

We believe that the need for an anonymous report, in specific situations, is warranted. Failure to have specific exceptions may lead to less reporting of credible allegations — with the potential impact of harm. For example, a younger sibling should be protected if they call for a allegation in t