Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB85 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-2341/1
3	3	MCP&FFK:skw
4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 85
5	5	March 6, 2025 - Introduced by JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Referred to Committee
6	6	on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.
7	7
8	8	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
9	9	AN ACT to create 118.335 of the statutes; relating to: pupils wearing
10	10	traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
11	11	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
12	12	This bill is explained in the NOTES provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
13	13	the bill.
14	14	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
15	15	enact as follows:
16	16	JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PREFATORY NOTE: This bill was prepared for the
17	17	Joint Legislative Council[s Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations.
18	18	Wisconsin law contains some general protections for a pupil[s religious beliefs,
19	19	ancestry, creed, race, and national origin. Specifically, schools must provide for the
20	20	reasonable accommodation of a pupil[s sincerely held religious beliefs with regard to all
21	21	examinations and other academic requirements. Additionally, no student may be denied
22	22	participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular,
23	23	extracurricular, pupil services, recreational, or other program or activity because of
24	24	race, religion, national origin, ancestry or creed. However, current law does not
25	25	explicitly address an American Indian student[s right to wear traditional tribal regalia
26	26	at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
27	27	This bill provides that school boards and charter schools may not prohibit a pupil
28	28	who is a member of, a descendent of a member of, or eligible to be enrolled in, a federally
29	29	recognized, whether currently or in the past, American Indian tribe or band from
30	30	1
31	31	2 2025 - 2026 Legislature
32	32	SENATE BILL 85
33	33	- 2 - LRB-2341/1
34	34	MCP&FFK:skw
35	35	SECTION 1
36	36	wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
37	37	The bill defines Xtraditional tribal regaliaY as a tribe[s traditional dress or recognized
38	38	objects of religious or cultural significance, including tribal symbols, beads, and
39	39	feathers.
40	40	SECTION 1. 118.335 of the statutes is created to read:
41	41	118.335 Tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies or school-sponsored
42	42	events. (1) In this section:
43	43	(a) XTraditional tribal regaliaY means a tribe[s traditional dress or recognized
44	44	objects of religious or cultural significance, including tribal symbols, beads, and
45	45	feathers.
46	46	(b) XTribeY means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or an
47	47	American Indian tribe or band that was previously a federally recognized American
48	48	Indian tribe or band.
49	49	(2) No school board or charter school may prohibit a pupil who is any of the
50	50	following from wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or
51	51	school-sponsored event:
52	52	(a) A member of a tribe.
53	53	(b) A descendent of a member of a tribe.
54	54	(c) Eligible to be enrolled as a member of a tribe.
55	55	(END)
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