Assembly Bill 220 seeks to enhance anti-discrimination protections in Wisconsin by explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression across various sectors, including employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. The bill defines gender identity as an individual's internal understanding of their gender, irrespective of their sex assigned at birth, and gender expression as the external manifestation of that identity. Key amendments involve adding these categories to existing non-discrimination laws, which already cover sex and sexual orientation, and ensuring that educational institutions, jury duty, adoption rights, and the National Guard do not exclude individuals based on these characteristics.

Additionally, the bill mandates that state agencies and contracting entities take remedial actions against discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression, alongside existing protections for race, religion, and sexual orientation. It clarifies that while institutions may segregate students in dormitories by sex, they must not deny access to accommodations consistent with a student's gender identity. The bill also stipulates that eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services will be determined without regard to various characteristics, including gender identity and expression. Furthermore, it amends legal language regarding marital status to ensure benefits cannot be denied based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, thereby fostering a more inclusive legal framework in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 15.04(1)(g), 15.04, 16.765(1), 16.765, 16.765(2), 36.09(1)(e), 36.09, 36.11(3)(a), 36.11, 36.12(1), 36.12, 36.29(1), 36.29, 38.04(13)(b), 38.04, 38.23(1), 38.23, 38.23(4), 47.02(3m)(f), 47.02, 48.82(1)(a), 48.82, 48.82(6), 51.90, 66.0125(3)(a), 66.0125, 66.0125(3)(c)1.b