Eliminating requirement to have an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion and eliminating requirement that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at certain hospitals. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed or induced must give voluntary and informed written consent to the abortion. Under current law, with certain exceptions, a woman's consent to an abortion is considered informed only if, at least 24 hours before the abortion is performed or induced, the physician or an assistant has, in person, orally provided the woman with certain information and given to the woman certain written materials. Before the enactment of 2013 Wisconsin Act 37 , the information required to be orally provided by the physician performing or inducing the abortion or another qualified physician to the woman included that fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services are available and how to obtain ultrasound imaging and auscultation services if she desires to do so. In 2013 Wisconsin Act 37 , this requirement to provide information about obtaining fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation services was eliminated. This bill reinstates the requirement to provide information on fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation services as it was before enactment of 2013 Wisconsin Act 37 .

Current law requires, except in a medical emergency and except in the situation where the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault, that before a person may perform or induce an abortion the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or any physician requested by the pregnant woman must do all of the following or shall arrange for a person who is qualified to perform an ultrasound to do all of the following: perform an ultrasound on the pregnant woman using whichever transducer the woman chooses; provide a simultaneous oral explanation during the ultrasound; display the ultrasound images so that the pregnant woman may view them; provide a medical description of the ultrasound images; and provide a means for the pregnant woman to visualize any fetal heartbeat, if detectable by the chosen ultrasound transducer type, and a simultaneous oral explanation of the visual display of the heartbeat (ultrasound requirements). Current law requires that, as part of the information a physician must provide a pregnant woman at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed or induced, the physician must tell the pregnant woman that she is required to obtain an ultrasound and must provide her a list of facilities that provide ultrasounds at no cost. This bill eliminates all of the ultrasound requirements and the requirement that the pregnant woman be told she is required to have an ultrasound performed before obtaining an abortion.

Who's behind it

13 senators are its authors⁠. All 13 are Democrats.

32 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.