Assembly Bill 589 aims to eliminate several abortion-related regulations in Wisconsin. The bill repeals various statutes, including those that require a physician to perform a physical exam and be present when administering abortion-inducing drugs, as well as the requirement for physicians to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital to perform abortions. Additionally, it removes specific informed consent requirements that exceed standard medical procedures, such as the 24-hour waiting period for providing information to a woman before an abortion. The bill also eliminates the felony charge for non-physicians performing abortions, while maintaining existing prohibitions on abortions after fetal viability and protections against prosecuting women who obtain abortions.

The bill amends certain sections of the statutes to update references and definitions related to medical emergencies and informed consent. For instance, it modifies the definition of "medical emergency" to align with the new provisions. The changes are designed to streamline the abortion process and reduce regulatory burdens while ensuring that standard informed consent requirements remain in place. The repeal and recreation of specific statutes will take effect on March 1, 2026, following the bill's publication.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 46.245, 48.375(4)(a)1, 48.375, 69.186(1)(hf), 69.186, 69.186(1)(k), 253.095, 253.10, 253.105, 253.107(1)(b), 253.107, 441.07(1g)(f), 441.07, 448.02(3)(a), 448.02, 457.26(2)(gm), 457.26, 940.15(5), 940.15