Wisconsin
Sex Laws 2026

The age of consent in Wisconsin is 18 as of May 2026, the same as in 10 other states. Wisconsin does not require schools to teach sex education; 28 states do. Districts that offer it follow abstinence-plus guidelines. Adult entertainment regulation is moderate, and the state scores 20/100 on this page's sex-ed progressiveness scale.

Wisconsin's age of consent is 18. There is a close-in-age exemption under Wisconsin Statutes Section 948.09: sexual activity with a person aged 16 or 17 is a misdemeanor rather than a felony if the defendant is less than four years older. Without the exemption, Wisconsin's age-18 consent threshold would generate significant felony exposure for typical high school relationships.

Wisconsin has no statewide sex education mandate. When districts offer sex ed, abstinence is typically encouraged but contraception may be discussed. There is no requirement for medical accuracy, no LGBTQ+ inclusion mandate, and no consent education standard. Milwaukee and Madison tend to offer more comprehensive programming through local district policy, while rural districts offer minimal content.

Wisconsin's adult entertainment environment is moderate. Milwaukee has an established adult entertainment industry, and Madison has a smaller but active one. The state regulates adult businesses through local licensing and zoning without aggressive state-level restriction campaigns. The overall posture is mid-tier moderate, consistent with other Midwestern states with significant urban centers.

Age 18. No mandate. Abstinence encouraged but contraception discussed when sex ed offered.

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More on Wisconsin

Also on Wisconsin: the full Wisconsin profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Wisconsin nudism guide and the Wisconsin gambling laws guide.