New Wyoming Breastfeeding Law
March 2, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under activism, law, nursing in public
Yesterday Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal signed into law a bill that exempts breastfeeding from the state’s indecent exposure law. The law is a far cry from the original progressive legislation proposed by Representative Kathy Davison. The bill was scaled back considerably after pressure from business lobbyists who feared that additional protections would cost Wyoming businesses money (you can read why I think that’s ridiculous). Any progress is wonderful though and I’m happy to see this breastfeeding protection put into place in Wyoming.
The provision in newly enacted House Bill 105 (PDF) reads:
The act of breastfeeding an infant child, including breastfeeding in any place where the woman may legally be, does not constitute public indecency.
Codified as Wisconsin Statute 6-4-201(b), this law becomes effective July 1, 2007. It joins the ranks of new breastfeeding laws enacted in 2007 in the city of Madison, Wisconsin and in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Thanks for the background, Angela. It is definitely a lame statute but how foolish it feels to be in what is now one of only TWO remaining states with NO breastfeeding legislation – Pennsylvania and Arkansas.
I think it’s interesting how the provision is for breastfeeding an “infant child”. I wonder if breastfeeding an older child is also covered, and if not, where the line is drawn.
Shelly — good question! “Infant child” seems a bit redundant (wouldn’t “infant” do if that’s what the legislature intended?) I know other states have similar wording but I do not know whether it’s been tested in the courts (not that I have ever heard of a breastfeeding woman being prosecuted for indecent exposure either).