AB 103 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: school board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns.

AB 103 requires all school boards to adopt policies by July 2026 governing changes to a student’s legal name or pronouns in official school records. It mandates that students under 18 need parental consent (with documentation or an affidavit for name changes), while students 18+ can use an affidavit verifying legal name change and consistent use of new name. School staff must use a minor’s legally provided name/pronouns unless parents provide written authorization for exceptions (e.g., shortened names), and schools must notify parents before approving name changes for minors. The bill aims to balance student privacy, parental rights, and school record accuracy while aligning with federal student privacy laws.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Assembly Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Vetoed

Mar 2026

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Vetoed Mar 31, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as a Wisconsin Act, moving from a draft proposal to an enacted law. The most significant change is the addition of a notarization requirement for parents or guardians requesting name changes for minors, ensuring the request is formally verified. The final text also clarifies that school staff cannot use names or pronouns that do not align with a minor's biological sex without written parental authorization, while explicitly allowing the use of shortened names without such permission. Finally, the enacted version adds a specific appeal process for denied requests, treating them similarly to corrections of inaccurate records under federal privacy laws.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on school board policies regarding name and pronoun changes, but the final version adds specific procedural requirements (notarization) and clarifies staff usage rules.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that requests for minor pupils must include a written, notarized statement from a parent or legal guardian.

Added a provision stating that school staff cannot refer to a minor by a name or pronoun not aligning with their biological sex without written parental authorization.

Added an exception allowing staff to use shortened versions of a minor's legal first or middle name without parental authorization.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific appeal process for denied name change requests, requiring the school board to treat appeals like requests to correct inaccurate records under federal law.

TECHNICAL

Converted the draft bill text into the formal 'Text as Enrolled' format with an official act title and effective date clause.

Floor votes · Assembly Mar 20, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 31, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-31-2026

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Introduced

LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15

upper

Jan 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and passed, Ayes 50, Noes 43

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Placed on calendar 3-20-2025 by Committee on Rules

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee on Rules

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 4

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 4

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Introduced

Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Dittrich

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Introduced by Representatives Dittrich, Behnke, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Maxey, O'Connor, Tusler and Mursau; cosponsored by Senator Jacque

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors