Wisconsin Senate Bill SB157

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/27/25
• Refer: 3/27/25
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 441.07 (2), 448.02 (6), 448.02 (9) (intro.) and 448.978 (2) (intro.); to create 146.36, 441.07 (1j), 448.02 (3m) and 448.978 (1v) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age.

Summary

SB157 would prohibit Wisconsin health care providers from performing, prescribing, supplying, or referring minors for certain gender transition medical interventions when the purpose is to change a minor’s body to align with a sex different from the minor’s biological sex. The bill specifically bars surgeries such as sterilizing procedures and mastectomies, as well as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone treatment at supraphysiologic doses. It also defines key terms such as “biological sex,” “minor,” and “health care provider.” The bill includes narrow exceptions for minors with medically verifiable disorders of sex development, for treatment of complications caused by a gender transition procedure, and for emergency procedures needed to prevent death or major bodily impairment. It also states a legislative intent to allow time for tapering or discontinuation of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones before the effective date, which would be six months after publication.

Impact

SB157 would create a new statutory prohibition in chapter 146 and tie enforcement to professional discipline provisions for nurses, physicians, and physician assistants. It requires the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, and the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board to investigate alleged violations and, upon a finding of violation, revoke the relevant license or certificate. The bill also limits reinstatement and restoration for licenses revoked under these provisions and restricts judicial stays of physician discipline orders. Its practical effect would be to remove access to specified gender-affirming medical care for minors in Wisconsin and expose licensed providers to mandatory revocation for violations.

Sentiment

Based on the bill’s sponsorship and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the available context suggests strong support among the bill’s authors and likely aligned legislative supporters, but no documented public debate is included here. The bill’s framing and broad list of cosponsors indicate it was advanced as a major policy measure rather than a narrow technical change. However, because the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, it did not become law.

Contention

The central point of contention is whether the state should prohibit gender transition medical care for minors, especially puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and certain surgeries. Supporters appear to view the bill as protecting minors from irreversible treatment and ensuring a delay for tapering existing medications, while opponents would likely argue it interferes with medical judgment, parental decision-making, and access to gender-affirming care. Additional tension arises from the bill’s mandatory license-revocation penalties and its limited exceptions, which may be viewed as either necessary safeguards or overly broad restrictions on health care providers.