New Bill Repealing 1849 Criminal Abortion Ban is a Necessary Step

This morning, Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez - alongside Democratic state legislators Kelda Roys and Lisa Subeck - reintroduced legislation that would restore abortion rights in Wisconsin by repealing the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban.

tony evers delivering state of the state 2022
tony evers delivering state of the state 2022

MADISON, Wis. – This morning, Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez – alongside Democratic state legislators Kelda Roys and Lisa Subeck – reintroduced legislation that would restore abortion rights in Wisconsin by repealing the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban.

The archaic ban threatens doctors and nurses with felony charges for providing abortion care, and bans abortion in nearly every case – including in cases of rape and incest. It went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court MAGA majority overturned Roe v. Wade, our constitutional right to abortion, last summer.

“The legislation introduced today by the Evers administration and Democratic legislators is a necessary step in restoring safe, legal abortion access in Wisconsin,” said Chris Walloch, executive director of A Better Wisconsin Together. “Wisconsinites have made it clear that the barbaric, 174-year-old criminal abortion ban must be repealed, and this bill would do just that.”

According to a Marquette University Law School Poll, over 80% of Wisconsinites oppose the antiquated provisions written in the abortion ban.

“No matter a person’s zip code, everyone deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own reproductive healthcare,” Walloch continued. “Politicians have no place in Wisconsin’s exam rooms, and as long as the criminal abortion ban stays in place, elected officials will continue to insert themselves into decisions that ought to be made privately, between patient and doctor.”

Walloch also noted, “A Better Wisconsin Together applauds Gov. Evers, Lt. Gov. Rodriguez, and Democratic legislators in their introduction of this bill, and we encourage all of our state legislators to pledge their support as well.”

Call your legislator today at 1-800-362-9472, and demand they work together with Gov. Evers to repeal Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban.

# # #

A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.

Eric Toney talking
Eric Toney talking

What Wisconsinites Should Know About MAGA District Attorney Eric Toney Ahead of Sunday’s Debate

Toney is a Republican with a long history of aligning himself with fringe far-right policy positions

Image related to Coincidence? Congressman Tom Tiffany Pledges Not to Raise Billionaires’ Taxes, Billionaires Funnel Money to Congressman Tom Tiffany’s Campaign
Image related to Coincidence? Congressman Tom Tiffany Pledges Not to Raise Billionaires’ Taxes, Billionaires Funnel Money to Congressman Tom Tiffany’s Campaign

Coincidence? Congressman Tom Tiffany Pledges Not to Raise Billionaires’ Taxes, Billionaires Funnel Money to Congressman Tom Tiffany’s Campaign

It’s possible that the timing of $12 million in donations from the MAGA billionaire Uihleins is a coincidence, but Congressman Tiffany’s selling us out to serve the ultra-wealthy is no accident.

Businessman sits near a heap money on a table
Businessman sits near a heap money on a table

Over $24.7 Million in MAGA Billionaire Cash Doled Out to Republican State Legislative Candidates, GOP Campaign Committees in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Newly filed campaign finance reports reveal that three MAGA billionaires have now spent more than $24.7 million in their efforts to buy a Republican state legislature in Wisconsin. According to state campaign finance reports, between January 2025 and September 2026 Illinois billionaires Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein and Wisconsin’s richest person Diane Hendricks […]