The Wisconsin Assembly is anticipated to vote on a bipartisan bill that would empower pharmacists to prescribe and dispense birth control. This bill, authored by Republicans, has garnered support from both sides of the aisle but faces opposition from anti-abortion organizations. While it successfully passed the Assembly in the previous legislative session, it stalled in the Senate. The bill's sponsor, Republican Representative Joel Kitchens, remains hopeful for its passage this time around.
The resurgence of this bill coincides with the reinstatement of Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. In the wake of this decision, and several losses in abortion-related ballot measures across the country, Republicans are exploring various legislative approaches to the issue of reproductive rights. Concurrently, Wisconsin Republicans have also introduced a bill to establish exceptions for rape and incest within the state's abortion ban. However, Democratic Governor Tony Evers has pledged to veto any legislation that doesn't fully restore abortion access to its pre-Roe v. Wade status. Governor Evers also supports a lawsuit filed by the state's Attorney General challenging the abortion ban, a case that is expected to reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which will transition to liberal control in August.
Proponents of the pharmacist-prescribed birth control bill argue it's a crucial step in preventing unintended pregnancies, given that currently, most birth control requires a prescription from a physician or advanced practice nurse. This bill has a history of bipartisan support in the Assembly, including previous introductions by Democrats. However, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain, and it requires passage in both chambers and the Governor's signature to become law. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has not yet commented on the bill's prospects.
While Governor Evers has expressed support for the bill, some Democrats remain skeptical about its chances in the Senate. Representative Lisa Subeck, who recently co-sponsored a bill to enshrine access to birth control as a legal right, views the pharmacist-prescribed birth control bill as a symbolic gesture by Assembly Republicans, doubting its ability to gain traction in the Senate. Despite this skepticism, the bill enjoys broad support from various organizations, including the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, medical and public health associations, and others.
Opposition to the measure comes from groups such as Pro-Life Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, and Wisconsin Family Action.
