by MADISON, WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a Republican-led legislative committee acted unconstitutionally by blocking a rule banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals, shifting power toward the governor’s office and clearing a path for the ban’s enactment.
Key Points
- The 4-3 decision from the liberal-majority court ruled the Legislature’s Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules overstepped its authority by repeatedly blocking agency rules under Gov. Tony Evers’ administration.
- The ruling allows the Wisconsin licensing board’s ban on conversion therapy to proceed, though its effective date remains unclear.
- Conversion therapy is a widely discredited practice aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It is already banned in 23 states and more than a dozen Wisconsin communities.
- The court said the committee’s veto power violated the state constitution, which requires all laws to pass both legislative chambers and be presented to the governor.
- Gov. Evers praised the decision as a victory against legislative “gridlock,” while Republicans warned it gives the executive branch too much unchecked power.
- The case has broader implications, as the legislative committee has also blocked rules related to environmental regulations, public health, and vaccine requirements.
The decision is the latest development in the ongoing power struggle between Wisconsin’s Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature, with potentially far-reaching effects on how state laws are implemented moving forward.
