Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at repealing Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban and expanding abortion access across the state at a Wednesday press conference.
The Abortion Rights Restoration Act (ARRA), introduced by Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, and Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, would allow for medication abortion via telehealth, expanding access across urban and rural Wisconsin. Currently, people seeking an abortion must attend multiple appointments with their physician — one for counseling and another for the procedure.
If passed, the bill would also eliminate restrictions on who can provide medication abortions and on state-mandated scripts that providers share with abortion patients.
Dr. Ashlyn Brown, a family physician, called the script providers' read to abortion patients “biased” and shared her experience navigating the state’s current mandates.
“Restrictions forcing physicians like me to read a script riddled with medically inaccurate information, scare tactics and frankly, biased language about the abortion care that they need is not evidence-based medicine,” Brown said.
Subeck said the bill also aims to repeal the state’s ban on abortion coverage under the Affordable Care Act and would provide coverage under Wisconsin’s state employee health plans.
“The Abortion Rights Restoration Act would ensure that every single Wisconsinite has the right to determine their own future and to make their own reproductive health care decisions without interference from politicians,” Subeck said.
Abortion has been a critical campaign issue for Wisconsin Democrats after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The decision triggered an 1849 Wisconsin law banning abortion, though Dane County Judge Diane Schlipper ruled the 19th century law does not ban abortion, leaving the liberal-controlled court to hear a case soon on whether the ban is law and if the Wisconsin Constitution protects the right to an abortion.
Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI), said the organization had been working for years to secure both constitutional and statutory protections for abortion access. That effort became their “Restore, Protect and Expand” strategy to ensure abortion rights for all Wisconsinites.
Atkinson said threats of prosecution against providers forced PPWI to suspend abortion services. During that time, they helped patients access care in neighboring states while also working with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and several Wisconsin OB-GYNs to develop a legal strategy.
“As soon as the court provided clarification on the law, we resumed abortion care,” Atkinson said.
Roys cited a report showing that over 80% of Americans believe abortion should be legal and treated as a private decision between an individual and their physician. The report also found that most Americans agree politicians should not be involved in these decisions.
Roys said she will ensure the bill will get an Assembly hearing either this session or the next but it remains unclear if the bill will make it in this legislative session.
Despite all Democratic lawmakers sponsoring the ARRA, the bill is unlikely to advance as no Republicans, who hold the majority in both the state Assembly and Senate, have sponsored it.
Zoey Elwood is copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
