Current Status - Wisconsin

As of April 2026, women’s rights in Wisconsin remain unsettled, but major policy changes have slowed for now. Lawmakers ended their legislative session early to focus on the midterms, leaving many proposals unfinished until 2027.

Across key areas, rights are mixed. Abortion is legal but restricted, healthcare access is improving in some areas while remaining uneven, workplace protections are limited, and education policy remains contested.

Wisconsin has a divided government, and recent legislative activity reflects ongoing disagreement and areas of real tension on some of these issues. Courts continue to play a central role, and the recent state Supreme Court election secured a liberal majority for the next several years.

For now, Wisconsin is in a holding pattern, with future changes likely to come through court decisions and elections.

What we’re watching: Upcoming elections and a newly added ballot measure will play a key role in shaping the direction of policy in a divided government. At the same time, federal decisions—especially those affecting Medicaid and medication abortion—could influence access and how care is delivered across the state.

Top 5 Things to Know

• Abortion is legal, but access is restricted.
  State laws limit abortion after about 20 weeks and require waiting periods, in-person visits, and other steps that can make care harder to obtain.
• Maternal and preventive care have expanded.
  New laws extend Medicaid coverage to one year after childbirth and require insurance to cover additional breast cancer screenings.
• Workplace protections vary by employer.
  There is no statewide paid family leave, and most workers rely on limited unpaid leave and employer-provided benefits.
• Education policy is stable but contested.
  Schools continue operating under current policies, but recent proposals show ongoing disagreement over gender identity, student rights, and sex education.
• Voting access is established but structured.
  Wisconsin requires photo ID and has specific registration rules, while also offering early and absentee voting options.

Women's Health

Wisconsin has restored abortion access and made targeted improvements in maternal and preventive care, but the broader landscape remains unsettled.

Reproductive Rights
Abortion is currently legal in Wisconsin, but access is limited by state restrictions, including a 20-week ban, mandatory waiting periods, and requirements for counseling and ultrasound visits. Telemedicine for abortion is restricted, and coverage through Medicaid and some private insurance plans is limited, making access even more limited for some women.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling blocking enforcement of the 1849 abortion ban allowed clinics to resume care, but the state does not have explicit protections for abortion, as roughly 13 other states do.

Recent legislative proposals—none of which advanced before lawmakers adjourned—highlight how unsettled the issue remains. These included efforts to require state-issued “catch kits” for at-home medication abortion, raising privacy and enforcement concerns, and a proposal to establish fetal personhood (SB556), which experts warned could affect care in cases like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. By contrast, the Pregnancy Loss Protection Act would have explicitly protected individuals from investigation or prosecution following miscarriage or stillbirth, responding to growing concerns about post-pregnancy criminalization.

Together, these competing approaches reflect a landscape where access exists but remains legally and politically contested.

Healthcare Access
Access to healthcare in Wisconsin is relatively strong in some areas but uneven overall. The state has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, limiting eligibility for some low-income adults, though programs like BadgerCare and the Family Planning Only Services Program provide targeted coverage for maternal and reproductive health.

Wisconsin has taken steps to expand access to maternal and preventive care. A new law, Senate Bill 23, extends Medicaid coverage for mothers to one year after childbirth, and Gail's Law now requires insurers to cover supplemental breast imaging.

Contraception is broadly covered through Medicaid and private insurance, with additional access through family planning programs and over-the-counter options available at low or no cost for many residents.

Other efforts—including allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control and expanding menopause-related care—gained traction but were left unresolved when the legislative session ended.

Workplace Rights

Workplace protections for women in Wisconsin are limited and vary depending on employer policies. The state does not require paid family or medical leave, and most workers rely on unpaid leave through federal law or Wisconsin’s own family leave law, both of which cover only certain employees and provide limited time off.

Some protections are in place. State and federal laws prohibit discrimination based on sex and pregnancy, and Wisconsin law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for disabilities and pregnancy-related conditions. However, access to benefits like paid leave, flexible work arrangements, and pay equity policies often depends on individual employers rather than statewide requirements.

A newly approved constitutional amendment on the November ballot would prohibit government programs that consider race or sex in areas like employment and education, adding another potential shift for voters to decide.

Violence & Safety

Wisconsin has a mix of legal protections and support programs addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and maternal safety. State law allows survivors to seek restraining orders, and programs are in place to support victims through shelters, crisis services, and legal protections.

Recent policy changes have focused on maternal and infant safety. A new law expands the state’s “Safe Haven” program, allowing parents to safely surrender newborns under certain conditions without facing criminal penalties.

Additional efforts to expand protections and services were considered during the legislative session, but were tabled before lawmakers adjourned.

Voting & Civic Participation

Voting rights in Wisconsin are established but shaped by specific requirements that can affect access. The state continues to take steps that expand fair representation, even as new ID rules create trade-offs:

• Court rulings in 2024 reinstated ballot drop boxes statewide.
• New legislative maps replaced years of partisan gerrymandering, increasing representation.
• A voter-ID constitutional amendment approved in April 2025 cemented existing ID rules, which critics say may disproportionately affect women, students, and older voters.

Recent legislative activity has been limited, and no major changes were made before the session ended in March.

Education

Education policy in Wisconsin remains an active area of disagreement, particularly around how schools address gender identity, student participation, parental involvement, and sex education.

• The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) policy restricts girls’ sports participation to students assigned female at birth.
• Ongoing DEI audits across the UW System have led to program reductions and reduced support for marginalized student groups.
• Erin’s Law, which would require child sexual abuse prevention education in schools, did not move forward. 38 states have passed similar laws.

Related WRDI Reporting

2026 Elections - WI (Apr 26)
Wisconsin's legislative session is over. Here's what that means. (Apr 26)
Two abortion bills show Wisconsin's deep divide as 2025 ends (Dec 25)
Wisconsin's creative new abortion bill - "Catch Kits" (Nov 25)
Wisconsin advances two healthcare access bills (Oct 25)
Wisconsin considering domestic violence safety measures (Oct 25)
Wisconsin 1849 abortion ban removed (Oct 25)
Child care funds partially extended in WI, with impact uncertain (Jul 25)
Voter ID requirement added to the WI state constitution (Jun 25)
WI schools: gender and equity in transition (Jun 25)