Ryan Spaude, Wisconsin State Representative for 89th District | LinkedIn
Ryan Spaude, Wisconsin State Representative for 89th District | LinkedIn
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "eliminating criminal defenses of adequate provocation, self-defense, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect if the claim is based on the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill proposes the elimination of certain criminal defenses related to gender identity and sexual orientation. It establishes that defenses such as adequate provocation, self-defense, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect are inadmissible if based on the discovery, knowledge, or potential disclosure of a victim's gender identity or sexual orientation. This includes scenarios where the victim made a non-violent romantic or sexual advance or had a romantic relationship with the defendant. The bill amends existing statutes by clarifying that mental disease or defect excludes states induced by such discoveries about another's gender or sexual orientation. It first applies to offenses committed when the act takes effect.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Kelda Roys (Democrat-26th District), Rep. Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Rep. Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Rep. Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), and Rep. Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), and Sen. Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), along with 39 other co-sponsors.
Ryan Spaude has co-authored or authored another 23 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Spaude graduated from Princeton University in 2016 and again in 2022 from University of Wisconsin Law School with a JD.
Spaude, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 89th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Elijah Behnke.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB361 | 07/17/2025 | Eliminating criminal defenses of adequate provocation, self-defense, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect if the claim is based on the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation |
| AB62 | 02/24/2025 | Health care costs omnibus, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
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