LaTonya Johnson, Wisconsin State Senator for 6th District | Facebook
LaTonya Johnson, Wisconsin State Senator for 6th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "a minor’s authority to consent to health care".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill allows minors aged 14 and older, classified as "unaccompanied youth," to consent to and receive medically necessary care without requiring parental or guardian approval, provided they are not under the supervision of specific state departments or agencies. An unaccompanied youth must have their status confirmed in writing by a designated local educational agency liaison, a school social worker or counselor, an intake employee at a shelter or transitional facility, the director of an entity providing services to homeless individuals, or an attorney. The bill specifies criteria for what constitutes medically necessary care and protects medical professionals from liability when providing services based on a minor's consent. Identification as an unaccompanied youth does not alone establish abuse or neglect, and mandatory reporting requirements remain unaffected.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Paul Tittl (Republican-25th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), Senator Jamie Wall (Democrat-30th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Jill Billings (Democrat-95th District), and Representative Jodi Emerson (Democrat-91st District), along 10 other co-sponsors.
LaTonya Johnson has co-authored or authored another six bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Johnson graduated from Tennessee State University in 1997 with a BS.
Johnson, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2017 to represent the state's 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Nikiya Harris Dodd.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB70 | 02/26/2025 | A minor’s authority to consent to health care |
| SB60 | 02/21/2025 | Expanding the homestead income tax credit. (FE) |
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