Bill

Bill > SB384


WI SB384

WI SB384
Requirements for children born alive following abortion or attempted abortion and providing a penalty.


summary

Introduced
08/11/2025
In Committee
02/03/2026
Crossed Over
02/11/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires any health care provider present at the time an abortion or attempted abortion results in a child born alive to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age and to ensure that the child born alive is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital. A health care provider or an employee of a hospital, physician[s office, or clinic where abortions are performed or induced who has knowledge of a failure to comply with the requirements of the bill must immediately report the failure to an appropriate law enforcement agency. Any person who violates the requirement to exercise professional skill, care, and diligence or to ensure the child is transported and admitted to a hospital is guilty of a felony with a penalty of a fine not to exceed $10,000, imprisonment not to exceed six years, or both. The mother of the child born alive, however, may not be prosecuted. The bill specifies that a woman upon whom an abortion was performed or attempted may bring a claim for damages, LRB-0349/1 SWB:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 384 including damages for personal injury and emotional and psychological distress, against a person who violates or attempts to violate the requirements of the bill. The bill also makes intentionally causing the death of a child born alive as a result of an abortion or an attempted abortion a felony with a penalty of life imprisonment, which is the same penalty as first-degree intentional homicide. The mother of the child born alive may not be prosecuted under this provision in the bill. Under current law, an individual who undergoes a live birth is considered born alive. XLive birthY is defined as the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother, of a human being, at any stage of development, who, after the expulsion or extraction, breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut and whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, a cesarean section, or an abortion. Under current law, whoever is born alive as a result of an abortion is considered to have the same legal status and legal rights as a human being at any point after the human being undergoes a live birth as the result of natural or induced labor or a cesarean section. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

AI Summary

This bill establishes strict legal requirements for healthcare providers when a child is born alive during an abortion or attempted abortion. The bill mandates that healthcare providers must use the same level of professional care to preserve the life and health of the born-alive child as they would for any other child of the same gestational age, and ensure the child is immediately transported to and admitted in a hospital. Healthcare providers or employees who are aware of a failure to comply with these requirements must report such failures to law enforcement. Violating these requirements is classified as a Class H felony, which can result in a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment up to six years, or both. The bill also allows the woman who underwent the abortion to bring a civil claim for damages, including personal injury and emotional distress, with potential punitive damages and attorney fees. Additionally, the bill creates a new criminal provision making it a Class A felony (with potential life imprisonment) to intentionally cause the death of a child born alive after an abortion, while explicitly stating that the mother cannot be prosecuted under these provisions. The bill includes confidentiality protections for women involved in such proceedings and explicitly states that it does not create or recognize a right to abortion.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (27)

Last Action

Received from Senate (on 02/12/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...