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WI SB553

WI SB553
Limitations on the definition of abortion.


summary

Introduced
10/17/2025
In Committee
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
11/18/2025
Passed
Dead
03/23/2026

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill amends the definition of abortion, for purposes of requiring voluntary and informed consent for abortions, to except from the definition of abortion a physician[s performance of a medical procedure or treatment designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman and not designed or intended to kill the unborn child, including an early induction or cesarean section performed due to a medical emergency or the removal of a dead embryo or dead fetus, or an ectopic, anembryonic, or molar pregnancy, which results in injury to or death of the LRB-4870/1 SWB:cjs&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 553 woman[s unborn child when the physician makes reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the woman and the life of her unborn child according to reasonable medical judgment and appropriate interventions for the gestational age of the child. The definition of abortion that applies for purposes of requiring voluntary and informed consent for abortions also applies to certain other abortion-related provisions, including prohibitions on funding for abortion- related activities, limitations on the prescription and use of abortion-inducing drugs, and the prohibition on abortion if the probable postfertilization age of the unborn child is 20 or more weeks. The bill makes the same change to the definition of abortion or induced abortion in other abortion-related provisions, including prohibitions on the subsidy of abortion, parental consent requirements for performance or inducement of an abortion on or for an unemancipated minor, induced abortion reporting requirements, and the exemption of induced abortion from certain crimes relating to death or harm to an unborn child. The bill further specifies that, for purposes of a statutory provision prohibiting, with certain exceptions, abortion after a fetus or unborn child reaches viability, abortion does not include a physician[s performance of a medical procedure or treatment designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman and not designed or intended to kill the unborn child, including an early induction or cesarean section performed due to a medical emergency or the removal of a dead embryo or dead fetus, or an ectopic, anembryonic, or molar pregnancy, which results in injury to or death of the woman[s unborn child when the physician makes reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the woman and the life of her unborn child according to reasonable medical judgment and appropriate interventions for the gestational age of the child.

AI Summary

This bill modifies the legal definition of abortion in Wisconsin to create specific exceptions for certain medical procedures and pregnancy complications. The bill defines abortion as the intentional destruction of an unborn child's life and changes the definition of "unborn child" to mean a human being from fertilization until birth. Importantly, the bill explicitly excludes from the definition of abortion several medical procedures and conditions, including: early induction or cesarean sections performed to prevent a pregnant woman's death, removal of a dead embryo or fetus, and medical treatments for ectopic (tubal), anembryonic (empty gestational sac), or molar pregnancies. These procedures are not considered abortions if the physician makes reasonable medical efforts to preserve both the woman's and the unborn child's life according to medical judgment. The bill also provides precise medical definitions for these specific pregnancy conditions and updates multiple sections of Wisconsin state law to reflect these new definitions, ensuring consistency across different legal statutes related to pregnancy, medical procedures, and reporting requirements.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (29)

Last Action

Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (on 03/23/2026)

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