SB 553 Wisconsin Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: limitations on the definition of abortion.

SB 553 clarifies that certain medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life do not count as "abortion" under state law. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy," and explicitly states that abortion does not include procedures like emergency cesarean sections, removal of a dead fetus, or treatment for these specific conditions when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. This directly affects healthcare providers who perform these emergency procedures and pregnant patients facing medical crises. The law updates multiple statutes to ensure these scenarios are excluded from the legal definition of abortion.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Oct 17, 2025 Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15
upper
Nov 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Oct 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Senators Quinn, Jacque, Jagler, Tomczyk, Bradley, Marklein, Nass and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Goeben, Gustafson, Brill, Maxey, Penterman, Murphy, Allen, Gundrum, Piwowarczyk, B. Jacobson, Tusler, Tittl, O'Connor, Kreibich, Dittrich, Behnke, Knodl, Armstrong, Green, Mursau and Hurd
upper
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors