Gov. Evers, Democrats Announce Legislation to Repeal Wisconsin's 1849-era Criminal Abortion Ban

Statement

Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez today joined State Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) and State Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) to reintroduce legislation this legislative session to repeal Wisconsin's 1849-era criminal abortion ban--a ban that was passed before the Civil War and before women had the right to vote and prohibits nearly all abortions without exceptions for rape and incest. The bill, LRB-0692, would cleanly repeal Wisconsin's criminal abortion ban, effectively reverting abortion access in Wisconsin to June 23, 2022, the day before the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey.

They were joined for the announcement by Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine), as well as Democratic members of both houses, Attorney General Josh Kaul, community advocates, and healthcare providers.

"I've been clear from the beginning that I won't sign a bill that leaves Wisconsin women with fewer rights and freedoms than they had before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe. This bill will simply restore access to safe, legal abortion in Wisconsin to what it was on June 23, 2022--nothing more, and nothing less," said Gov. Evers. "We must restore Roe, and I'm proud to join Legislative Democrats in continuing our fight to restore access to reproductive freedom in Wisconsin with a clean repeal our state's 1849-era criminal abortion ban."

Source