The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has announced a proposed rule that would replace terms such as "mother," "father," and "pregnant women" with gender-neutral language in the state's prenatal and child-care coordination regulations.

According to the department, the proposal aims to revise terminology in state regulations governing prenatal and child care coordination programs by substituting "mother" and "father" with "member" and "other parent," respectively, and replacing "pregnant women" with "pregnant persons." This move comes after the Wisconsin Supreme Court limited a legislative committee’s authority to block agency rules on July 8, 2025. Proponents argue that this change aligns rules with eligibility language, while critics claim it erases traditional parental roles and could complicate care delivery.

Hearing materials for CR 25-004, dated September 3, 2025, outline these text changes: references to "mother" will become "member," "father" will be replaced by "other parent," and several instances of "pregnant woman/women" will shift to "pregnant person(s)." The coverage notes indicate that at least a couple of references to fathers and multiple pregnancy-related terms are amended, highlighting the scope of edits across Prenatal Care Coordination (PNCC)-related rules. The timing places the change under post-Marklein II procedures, allowing for legislative feedback but no committee veto.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is the state's public health and human services agency located at 1 West Wilson Street in Madison. Established in 2008 following a reorganization, it oversees Medicaid, public health, mental health and substance-use services, long-term care, licensing and quality assurance, as well as programs supporting families and vulnerable populations statewide. The department's mission is to protect and promote the health and safety of Wisconsin residents by collaborating with local partners and regulated providers across five divisions and multiple offices.