Melissa Ratcliff, Wisconsin State Senator for 16th District | Facebook
Melissa Ratcliff, Wisconsin State Senator for 16th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, national guard, jury duty, and adoption and in the receipt of mental health or vocational rehabilitation services".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression across various sectors, including employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance, the national guard, jury duty, and adoption. It defines "gender identity" as an individual's internal understanding of their own gender, irrespective of their sex assigned at birth, and "gender expression" as how an individual expresses their gender through appearance or behavior. The bill amends existing discrimination laws to include these categories, ensuring that state agencies, educational institutions, and other organizations include provisions against discrimination on these grounds in their contracts, policies, and practices. It mandates equal access to facilities consistent with a person's gender identity and prohibits educational institutions from discriminating against student-led organizations based on their mission related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. The bill applies to contracts, investments, and service provisions, broadening protections to prevent discrimination throughout the state's industries and institutions.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Christian Phelps (Democrat-93rd District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), and Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), along 29 other co-sponsors.
Melissa Ratcliff has authored or co-authored another 48 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Ratcliff graduated from Madison College in 2000.
Ratcliff, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2025 to represent the state's 16th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Melissa Agard.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB223 | 04/25/2025 | Discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, national guard, jury duty, and adoption and in the receipt of mental health or vocational rehabilitation services |
| SB217 | 04/16/2025 | Eliminating the publication requirement for a name change petition seeking to conform an individual’s name with the individual’s gender identity |
| SB169 | 04/03/2025 | Privacy protections for judicial officers |
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