Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: the treatment of a pregnant or postpartum person in prison or jail. (FE)
Jail Juvenile detention facility Kindergarten Maternal and infant care Prison Sexually transmitted disease
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill limits the use of physical restraints on pregnant and certain postpartum people who are in the custody of a correctional facility. Under the bill, a person who is known to be pregnant or who has given birth vaginally in the preceding 30 days or by cesarean section in the preceding 60 days may not be restrained unless all of the following apply: 1) there is a substantial flight risk or some other extraordinary medical or security circumstance that requires restraints to be used to ensure the safety and security of the person, the staff of the correctional or medical facility, other inmates, or the public; 2) there has been an individualized determination that restraints are necessary to prevent escape or injury or ensure the safety and security of the person, the staff of the correctional or medical facility, other inmates, or the public; 3) there is no objection to the use of restraints by the treating medical care provider; and 4) any restraints used are the least restrictive possible under the circumstances. If a representative of a correctional institution does restrain a pregnant or postpartum person as provided in the bill, the representative must document in writing his or her compliance with the requirements for restraining such a person.
In addition, the bill requires that every woman in the custody of a correctional facility be offered testing for pregnancy, and asked whether she has given birth in the preceding 24 month or is lactating, and, if pregnant, be offered testing for sexually transmitted infections. The bill also requires the correctional facility where the pregnant or postpartum person is being confined to provide information related to pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, and to provide access to certain health services related to pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Introduced by: Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , Hesselbein (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Larson (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Spreitzer (D)
23 cosponsors
Anderson (D) , Arney (D) , Bare (D) , Brown (D) , Clancy (D) , DeSmidt (D) , Fitzgerald (D) , Joers (D) , Kirsch (D) , Madison (D) , Mayadev (D) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Neubauer (D) , Palmeri (D) , Phelps (D) , Rivera-Wagner (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snodgrass (D) , Stroud (D) , Stubbs (D) , Subeck (D) , Taylor (D) , Vining (D)
Registered lobbying interests · 1
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
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Roys, L. Johnson, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Hesselbein, Larson, Ratcliff and Spreitzer; cosponsored by Representatives Subeck, Snodgrass, Mayadev, Taylor, Anderson, Arney, Bare, Brown, Clancy, DeSmidt, Fitzgerald, Kirsch, Joers, Madison, Neubauer, Palmeri, Phelps, Rivera-Wagner, Sinicki, Stroud and Stubbs
- Dec 12, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Dec 18, 2025 · Senate
Representative Vining added as a cosponsor
- Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 18, 2026 · Senate
Representative Moore Omokunde added as a cosponsor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1