2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-2341/1
MCP&FFK:skw
2025 SENATE BILL 85
March 6, 2025 - Introduced by JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Referred to Committee
on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 118.335 of the statutes; relating to: pupils wearing
traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill is explained in the NOTES provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
the bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PREFATORY NOTE: This bill was prepared for the
Joint Legislative Council[s Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations.
Wisconsin law contains some general protections for a pupil[s religious beliefs,
ancestry, creed, race, and national origin. Specifically, schools must provide for the
reasonable accommodation of a pupil[s sincerely held religious beliefs with regard to all
examinations and other academic requirements. Additionally, no student may be denied
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular,
extracurricular, pupil services, recreational, or other program or activity because of
race, religion, national origin, ancestry or creed. However, current law does not
explicitly address an American Indian student[s right to wear traditional tribal regalia
at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
This bill provides that school boards and charter schools may not prohibit a pupil
who is a member of, a descendent of a member of, or eligible to be enrolled in, a federally
recognized, whether currently or in the past, American Indian tribe or band from
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2 2025 - 2026 Legislature
SENATE BILL 85
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MCP&FFK:skw
SECTION 1
wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event.
The bill defines Xtraditional tribal regaliaY as a tribe[s traditional dress or recognized
objects of religious or cultural significance, including tribal symbols, beads, and
feathers.
SECTION 1. 118.335 of the statutes is created to read:
118.335 Tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies or school-sponsored
events. (1) In this section:
(a) XTraditional tribal regaliaY means a tribe[s traditional dress or recognized
objects of religious or cultural significance, including tribal symbols, beads, and
feathers.
(b) XTribeY means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or an
American Indian tribe or band that was previously a federally recognized American
Indian tribe or band.
(2) No school board or charter school may prohibit a pupil who is any of the
following from wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or
school-sponsored event:
(a) A member of a tribe.
(b) A descendent of a member of a tribe.
(c) Eligible to be enrolled as a member of a tribe.
(END)
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