Assembly Bill 421 seeks to prohibit cities, villages, towns, and counties in Wisconsin from enacting ordinances that confer legal rights to natural resources. Specifically, the bill defines a "rights of nature ordinance" as one that grants legal rights for a natural resource to exist, be protected against pollution, or maintain a healthy ecosystem.

The bill introduces a new section, 66.0132, into the statutes, which explicitly states that no political subdivision may enact such ordinances. This legislative move aims to prevent local governments from establishing legal frameworks that recognize the rights of nature, thereby centralizing authority over environmental regulations at the state level.