WisconsinSchool boards would set rules for pupil names and pronouns
The failed proposal would require Wisconsin school boards to set rules for pupil records and staff use of names and pronouns by July 1, 2026.
What it does
School boards would have to adopt policies for changing pupils' legal names or pronouns in official records, including requests, denials, and appeals, by July 1, 2026.
Records would keep a pupil's legal name and first-enrollment pronouns unless a minor's parent or guardian, or an adult pupil, submits a written notarized request.
During school hours, staff would follow a minor pupil's parent or guardian on names and pronouns, with a notarized authorization generally required for other choices.
Argument forClear request and appeal steps could give families and adult pupils a defined way to seek corrections to school records.
Argument againstThe notarized-request and authorization rules could make it harder for some pupils to use their preferred names or pronouns at school.
More detail
Each school board would have to adopt policies covering changes to pupils' legal names and pronouns in official school records. The policies would cover all school pupils and the official records defined as pupil records under state law. The policy would have to require initial requests to go to the principal. It would have to include a process for appealing a denied request to the school board. Appeals would be handled like requests to correct or delete inaccurate, misleading, or privacy-violating student information. School boards would have to adopt the policies by July 1, 2026.
Official school records would generally stay under a pupil's legal name and the pronouns provided at first enrollment. For a minor, a parent or guardian would request a change; a pupil age 18 or older would make the request personally. The request would have to be written, notarized, and identify the requested name, pronouns, or both. A principal or administrator could not make the change unless the board's policy and its procedures had been followed. The policy could not be interpreted to limit existing federal student-record privacy rights. These rules would apply to requests made under a policy adopted by the July 1, 2026, deadline.
School boards would have to set rules for how staff may refer to minor pupils during school hours. A minor pupil's parent or legal guardian would determine the names and pronouns staff may use. Staff could not use a name or pronouns that do not align with the pupil's biological sex without written, notarized permission from a parent or legal guardian. That permission would not be needed for a shortened version of the pupil's legal first or middle name. The rules would apply during school hours under policies adopted by the July 1, 2026, deadline.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 31Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-31-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Feb 16Report correctly enrolled on 2-16-2026Minor
- Feb 16LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)
- Feb 12Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Feb 11Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Feb 11Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Feb 11Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 11Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 9Placed on calendar 2-11-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 9Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 9Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Jan 9Executive action taken
- Jan 6Public hearing held
- 2025
- Mar 21Read first time and referred to committee on EducationMinor
- Mar 20Received from AssemblyMinor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 20Read a third time and passed, Ayes 50, Noes 43Passed Assembly
- Mar 20Rules suspended
- Mar 20Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 20Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Mar 20Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 18Placed on calendar 3-20-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Mar 13Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 4. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 4. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 4Minor
- Mar 13Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 4Minor
- Mar 13Executive action taken
- Mar 11Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative DittrichMinor
- Mar 11Representative Wichgers added as a coauthor
- Mar 6Public hearing held
- Mar 5Senator Tomczyk added as a cosponsor
- Mar 5Representative Goeben added as a coauthor
- Mar 4Representative Murphy added as a coauthor
- Mar 4Read first time and referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Mar 4Introduced by Representatives Dittrich, Behnke, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Maxey, O'Connor, Tusler and Mursau; cosponsored by Senator JacqueIntroduced
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