2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1674/1
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 90
February 28, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives KITCHENS, O'CONNOR, SHEEHAN
and WICHGERS, cosponsored by Senator JACQUE. Referred to Committee on
State Affairs.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to amend 69.20 (2) (b), 69.21 (1) (a) 2. a., 69.21 (2) (a), 69.21 (2) (b),
69.21 (2) (d) 1. and 69.30 (3) of the statutes; relating to: copies of and
inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current state vital records law contains provisions addressing the issuance
and copying of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in vital records
and in certain circumstances, distinguishes between records for events before and
after October 1, 1907. This bill changes the distinguishing date in those
circumstances from the fixed date in 1907 to instead allow expanded authority to
inspect or disclose information contained in or copy a vital record if the event that is
the subject of the record took place at least 100 years ago. More specifically, the
authority to issue, copy, or allow inspection or disclosure of information contained
in a vital record specified under current law based on whether the event that is the
subject of the record occurred before or after October 1, 1907, would, under the bill,
instead be triggered by whether the event took place before or on or after January 1
of the year that is 100 years prior to the date of the request or, in the case of certain
photocopies, the date of the issuance of the uncertified copy of the vital record—a
date that will automatically advance as time progresses.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
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SECTION 1
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 69.20 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
69.20 (2) (b) Except as provided under sub. (3), the state registrar and local
registrars may not permit inspection of or disclose information contained in any
record of a birth which occurred on or after September 30, 1907 January 1 of the
year that is 100 years prior to the date of the request for inspection or disclosure for
information if the mother of the subject of the record was not married at any time
from the conception to the birth of the subject of the record, unless the inspection is
by or the information is disclosed to a person who has a direct and tangible interest
in such record.
SECTION 2. 69.21 (1) (a) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
69.21 (1) (a) 2. a. A vital record, if the event which is the subject of the vital
record occurred on or after September 30, 1907 January 1 of the year that is 100
years prior to the date of the request for issuance of a certified copy of the vital
record, unless the requester is a person with a direct and tangible interest in the
record or unless the registrar has received a court order directing issuance of the
vital record.
SECTION 3. 69.21 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
69.21 (2) (a) The state registrar or local registrar shall issue an uncertified
copy of the vital record of one or more registrants if the subject of the vital record is
an event occurring on or after September 30, 1907 January 1 of the year that is 100
years prior to the date of the request for issuance of an uncertified copy of the vital
record. The requirements of ss. 69.15 (6) (b) and 69.20 (3) (b) for disclosing
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SECTION 3
information under s. 69.20 (1) and (2) shall apply to issuance under this paragraph
of any copy of a vital record containing such information. Any uncertified copy
issued under this paragraph shall have on its face a notice that it is uncertified.
SECTION 4. 69.21 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
69.21 (2) (b) The state registrar and any local registrar shall issue an
uncertified copy of the vital record of one or more registrants, whether specified or
not, to any person if the subject of the vital record is an event occurring before
October 1, 1907 January 1 of the year that is 100 years prior to the date of the
request for issuance of the uncertified copy of the vital record, and if the person
submits a request for the copy in writing to the registrar responsible for filing or
registering the vital record and if the request is accompanied by the fee required
under s. 69.22 (1) (b).
SECTION 5. 69.21 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
69.21 (2) (d) 1. An uncertified photocopy of a vital record for an event
occurring before October 1, 1907 January 1 of the year that is 100 years prior to the
date of issuance of the uncertified photocopy of the vital record, other than a vital
record held by the state registrar and any local registrar, shall be stamped XNOT
FOR IDENTITY PURPOSES Y across its face and is subject to this paragraph but is
not otherwise subject to the limitations of this section or the requirements of s.
69.22.
SECTION 6. 69.30 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
69.30 (3) Any person may copy or may make available electronically an
uncertified copy of a vital record that is issued under s. 69.21 (2) (b) or (d) for an
event occurring before October 1, 1907, that is issued under s. 69.21 (2) (b) or (d)
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SECTION 6
January 1 of the year that is 100 years prior to the date of issuance of the
uncertified copy of the vital record.
(END)
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