Milwaukee City Wire

Dan O'Donnell, host of The Dan O'Donnell Show, said that Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature have introduced a bill aimed at removing references to "biological mother" and "biological father" in state law, replacing them with the term "natural parent." This statement was made on X.

"Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature have introduced a bill that eliminates the concept of biological motherhood and fatherhood in state law, replacing the phrase "biological mother" and/or "biological father" with "natural parent" 47 different times," said O'Donnell, Radio Host.

According to WTAQ, the proposed legislation replaces these terms 47 times within state law. The changes are included in Section 3106 of Senate Bill 45 and are part of a broader initiative by Governor Tony Evers’ administration to update statutory language. Supporters of the bill argue that these revisions aim to reflect inclusive and modern definitions of parenthood.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) advocates for neutral and inclusive language in family law. They assert that terms like "natural parent" can enhance legal clarity for LGBTQ+ families. While HRC does not specify every proposed term, it supports efforts to align state codes with contemporary family realities. Language changes often impact parental rights, custody, and legal recognition.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), multiple states have introduced or passed family law legislation in recent years that includes updating language related to parentage. These legislative changes frequently involve replacing gendered terms such as "mother" and "father" with neutral alternatives to reflect evolving family structures. Such legislative efforts are tracked in NCSL’s archived database on child support and family law legislation.

Dan O’Donnell is a radio host based in Milwaukee who provides political commentary on state legislation, education, and public policy. He has previously worked as a news anchor and investigative reporter. His program airs on News/Talk 1130 WISN and is distributed through iHeartMedia.