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AB 1193

Relating to: decriminalizing prostitution and creating a sex workers’ bill of rights.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Clancy and 4 co-sponsors

Wisconsin bill would decriminalize prostitution and establish sex worker protections, shifting from criminal penalties to regulatory framework.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 1193

Legislative bill overview

AB 1193 would decriminalize prostitution in Wisconsin and establish legal protections for sex workers, including a "sex workers' bill of rights." The bill aims to shift the legal framework from criminal penalties to regulatory or civil approaches while providing workplace protections for individuals engaged in sex work.

Why is this important

Decriminalization would affect how Wisconsin law enforcement addresses sex work, potentially reducing criminal records that create barriers to housing, employment, and services. This approach reflects ongoing national debate about whether criminalization or decriminalization better protects vulnerable populations and reduces trafficking and exploitation.

Potential points of contention

  • Trafficking concerns: Opponents worry decriminalization could facilitate human trafficking or make enforcement against coercive exploitation more difficult
  • Community safety: Questions about impacts on neighborhoods, public health regulations, and local enforcement priorities in areas with street-based sex work
  • Implementation details: Bill's specifics on age verification, consent standards, and distinction between voluntary and coerced sex work remain subjects of debate

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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