1849 abortion ban, revived by Dobbs, halted abortion care for 15 months
Enacted5/10
⚖ resolved: 1849 law does not ban abortion
Wisconsin · Wis. Stat. § 940.04; Kaul v. Urmanski (2025 WI 32) · Decided Jul 2, 2025
Impact 5/10
When Roe fell in June 2022, the state 1849 near-total ban was presumed back in force and providers stopped offering abortions for roughly 15 months. Care resumed after a 2023 lower-court ruling, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in July 2025 that the 1849 law does not apply to abortion. The disruption and three years of legal limbo were direct consequences of the Dobbs decision.
Reproductive rightsYoung adults (18-30)Working-age adultsWomenLow-incomePregnant people
Sources
✓ Verified against primary sources 2026-08-15