Termination of Parental Rights Under Safe Haven Law

Wisconsin Legislative Events

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Wisconsin Assembly Bill 903 relating to termination of parental rights under the safe haven law was vetoed by Governor Tony Evers on April 3, 2026. The bill would have amended Wisconsin Statutes 48.14(2)(a), 48.14(2)(b), and 48.185(2), and created 48.417(1m). Since the bill was vetoed, it will not become law and Wisconsin's existing safe haven and parental rights termination statutes remain unchanged.

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What changed

Wisconsin AB903, a bill that proposed modifying the state's safe haven law to address termination of parental rights, was vetoed by Governor Tony Evers on April 3, 2026. The bill had passed both the Assembly and Senate with narrow margins and would have created a new statutory provision under 48.417(1m) while amending three existing sections of Wisconsin law. Key sponsors included Representatives Clint Moses, Barbara Dittrich, and others.

Since the bill was vetoed, no changes to Wisconsin's parental rights termination laws will occur. Healthcare providers, child welfare agencies, and families in Wisconsin are not required to take any action regarding this bill. The existing safe haven law provisions under Chapter 48 of the Wisconsin Statutes remain in full effect without modification. Compliance teams tracking Wisconsin family law do not need to implement any new procedures or policies from this legislation.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Wisconsin / AB903 Vetoed AB903 Assembly Bill Vetoed 2026-04-03

Termination of parental rights under the safe haven law. (FE)

An Act to amend 48.14 (2) (a), 48.14 (2) (b) and 48.185 (2); to create 48.417 (1m) of the statutes; Relating to: termination of parental rights under the safe haven law. (FE)

Bill Details

State Wisconsin

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/re...

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Action History

2026-04-03 A Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-3-2026 2026-04-02 A Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026 2026-03-20 A Report correctly enrolled on 3-20-2026 2026-03-18 A Received from Senate concurred in 2026-03-17 S Ordered immediately messaged 2026-03-17 S Read a third time and concurred in 2026-03-17 S Rules suspended to give bill its third reading 2026-03-17 S Ordered to a third reading 2026-03-17 S Read a second time 2026-03-16 S Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1) 2026-03-11 S Available for scheduling 2026-03-11 S Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, Ayes 3, Noes 2 2026-03-11 S Executive action taken 2026-03-03 S Public hearing held 2026-02-25 S Read first time and referred to committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families 2026-02-23 S Received from Assembly 2026-02-19 A Ordered immediately messaged 2026-02-19 A Read a third time and passed 2026-02-19 A Rules suspended 2026-02-19 A Ordered to a third reading 2026-02-19 A Assembly Amendment 1 adopted 2026-02-19 A Read a second time 2026-02-18 A Made a special order of business at 11:44 AM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 14 2026-02-11 A Referred to committee on Rules 2026-02-11 A Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 6, Noes 3 2026-02-11 A Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Children and Families, Ayes 9, Noes 0 2026-02-11 A Executive action taken 2026-02-10 A Fiscal estimate received 2026-02-10 A Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Moses 2026-02-05 A Public hearing held 2026-01-23 A Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families 2026-01-23 A Introduced