Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: equality of rights on the basis of sex, gender identity, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, age, ancestry, or any other immutable characteristic and creating a private cause of action for violations of those rights by state actors (first consideration).
Constitutional amendments — First consideration Discrimination
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Adopted, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2025 legislature on first consideration, provides that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the state or by any political subdivision of the state on account of sex, gender identity, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, age, ancestry, or any other immutable characteristic. The constitutional amendment requires the state and each political subdivision to protect and secure the equality of these rights and creates a private cause of action against the state or the appropriate political subdivision of the state for violations of the rights guaranteed under the amendment.
A constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
Sponsors
Introduced by: Anderson (D) , Andraca (D) , Arney (D) , Bare (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , Cruz (D) , DeSmidt (D) , Emerson (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , Hong (D) , Hysell (D) , Joers (D) , Johnson (D) , Kirsch (D) , Madison (D) , Mayadev (D) , McCarville (D) , McGuire (D) , Miresse (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Neubauer (D) , Palmeri (D) , Phelps (D) , Prado (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Roe (D) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Spaude (D) , Stroud (D) , Stubbs (D) , Subeck (D) , Taylor (D) , Tenorio (D) , Udell (D) , Vining (D)
14 cosponsors
Carpenter (D) , Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , Habush Sinykin (D) , Hesselbein (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , Keyeski (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Wall (D) , Wirch (D)
Registered lobbying interests · 2
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Full history
- Oct 24, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Brown, Palmeri, Snodgrass, Subeck, McGuire, Anderson, Andraca, Arney, Bare, Clancy, Cruz, DeSmidt, Emerson, Fitzgerald, Hysell, Hong, Joers, Johnson, Kirsch, Madison, Mayadev, McCarville, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Phelps, Prado, Rivera-Wagner, Roe, Sheehan, Sinicki, Spaude, Stroud, Stubbs, Taylor, Tenorio, Udell and Vining; cosponsored by Senators L. Johnson, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Larson, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall, Wirch and Keyeski
- Oct 24, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs
- Nov 12, 2025 · Assembly
Senator Hesselbein added as a cosponsor
- Feb 9, 2026 · Assembly
Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Assembly
Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1