This new bill, authored by State Rep. Paul Tittl, seeks to allow unaccompanied minors aged 14 and older to consent to medically necessary care without parental approval, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “a minor’s authority to consent to health care”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill permits unaccompanied minors aged 14 and older to consent to medically necessary care without parental approval, provided they are not under government supervision. An “unaccompanied youth,” defined according to federal law as a homeless youth not in parental custody, must have their status confirmed in writing by an appropriate authority, such as a school liaison, social worker, or shelter employee. The bill ensures healthcare professionals are not legally liable for treating such minors without parental consent, though it does not exempt them from negligence liability. Additionally, identifying a minor as unaccompanied does not inherently indicate abuse, nor does it replace mandatory reporting responsibilities for abuse under state law.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Jill Billings (Democrat-95th District), Representative Jodi Emerson (Democrat-91st District), Representative Joan Fitzgerald (Democrat-46th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator LaTonya Johnson (Democrat-6th District), and Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), along 11 other co-sponsors.
Paul Tittl has authored or co-authored another eight bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Tittl, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2013 to represent the state’s 25th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Bob Ziegelbauer.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB49 | 02/17/2025 | A minor’s authority to consent to health care |
| AB31 | 02/17/2025 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty |
| AB20 | 02/06/2025 | Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) |
