Ryan Clancy, Wisconsin State Representative of 19th District | Facebook
Ryan Clancy, Wisconsin State Representative of 19th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "eliminating the publication requirement for a name change petition seeking to conform an individual’s name with the individual’s gender identity".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill removes the requirement for publishing a notice of a name change petition for individuals seeking to change their name to align with their gender identity. Currently, Wisconsin law mandates that petitions for a name change must be published in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks unless certain conditions are met, such as confidentiality due to safety concerns, and the name change is not for debt avoidance or criminal concealment. The bill adds an exception to this publication requirement specifically for individuals seeking a name change for gender identity conformity. While the petitioner must still demonstrate the name change is not to avoid debts or conceal a criminal record, they are no longer required to prove potential endangerment due to publication. This bill takes effect on the first day of the sixth month following its publication.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Angelina M. Cruz (Democrat-62nd District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), and Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), along 29 other co-sponsors.
Ryan M. Clancy has co-authored or authored another 22 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Clancy graduated from Beloit College in 2000 with a BA.
Clancy, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2023 to represent the state's 19th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Jonathan Brostoff.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB215 | 04/23/2025 | Eliminating the publication requirement for a name change petition seeking to conform an individual’s name with the individual’s gender identity |
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