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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Rep. Gundrum authors Wisconsin Assembly bill on child sexual abuse prevention education

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Rick Gundrum, Wisconsin State Representative for 58th District | Facebook

Rick Gundrum, Wisconsin State Representative for 58th District | Facebook

The new bill authored by State Rep. Rick Gundrum seeks to mandate child sexual abuse prevention education in Wisconsin schools, aiming to increase awareness and safety among students, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that starting in the 2026-27 school year, all school boards are required to implement a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program for students from four-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade. The program must include developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed instruction covering topics such as age-appropriate facts about sexual abuse, anatomical terms for body parts, consent, and safe versus unsafe touch. Schools must provide parents with a program outline, timing details, and opt-out options for their child. Parents will also receive information on recognizing, preventing, and reporting child sexual abuse, and how to talk to children about these issues. Parents have the right to exempt their child from the program by submitting a written request.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), Representative Joel Kitchens (Republican-1st District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), and Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District), along eight other co-sponsors.

Rick Gundrum has co-authored or authored another 60 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Gundrum graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Washington County with an AS and again from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a BS.

Gundrum, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2018 to represent the state's 58th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Bob Gannon.

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.

Bills Introduced by Rick Gundrum in Wisconsin Assembly During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
AB15604/02/2025Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE)
AB13403/13/2025The effective date of certain provisions contained in 2023 Wisconsin Act 126
AB5402/24/2025Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE)
AB1202/06/2025State agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. (FE)

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