The Sconi

Gov. Tony Evers (D-Wisc.) has proposed replacing “mother” with “inseminated” person in state code. 

The proposal, included in Evers’ 2025-2027 budget, would also replace “paternity” with “parentage” and substitute “husband” and “wife” with “spouse.”

WI House Speaker Robin Voss (R-Rochester) told The Independent that Evers’ proposal “reminds us just how liberal and out of touch today's Democratic Party really is.”

State Sen. Andre Jacque (R-De Pere) said Evers’ proposal is “woke virtue signaling.”

"If I called my mother an inseminated person, she'd probably slap me for good reason," Jacque told Fox 11 news. 

Evers’ proposal must first pass through the Joint Committee on Finance, co-chaired by Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam). If Republicans remove or block the provision in committee or during floor votes, it would not take effect. Even if Evers vetoes changes to the budget, the Republican majority could override his veto with enough votes.

Legal challenges could arise if advocacy groups or individuals decide to file lawsuits challenging the state’s existing parental terminology. If the legislature rejects Evers' proposal, lawsuits could be filed by liberal advocacy groups or other supporters of the proposal. A legal dispute could also emerge if Evers uses his veto power to implement changes, prompting Republican lawmakers to challenge his authority in court. Additionally, county-level family court disputes could lead to lawsuits that reach Wisconsin’s higher courts.

As such, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for which there is an election on April 1, could  determine how legal challenges to the proposal are decided. The court currently has a 4-3 liberal majority, but Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s retirement has made the seat competitive. If Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate, wins, the court would likely support legal challenges supporting Evers’ proposal. If Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, wins, the court would shift to a 4-3 conservative majority, increasing the likelihood of rulings that uphold the legislature’s authority and maintain existing law.