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Wisconsin bathroom bill would put changing tables in men's bathrooms

Posted at 10:08 AM, Nov 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-26 11:08:01-05

A group of Wisconsin lawmakers want to make it easier for men to change diapers. The so-called 'Baby Bathroom Bill' would require men's public bathroom to have changing tables.

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Bathroom at Milwaukee Public Library East Branch has a changing table in the men's room.

Head to public bathrooms around Milwaukee and you'll find that there are not always places for fathers to change their child's diaper.

"Some bathrooms don't have changing tables. Where others aren't very nice," said Deron Curliss.

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Deron Curliss siting with his daughter Emmy.

He said when changed his daughter's diapers, he had to get creative.

"It was on floors if I had to.," said Curliss.

Representative David Crowley (D-Milwaukee), Representative Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee), and Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) introduced the bill Monday in Madison. It would require changing tables in any newly built or substantially renovated men's and unisex bathrooms in public buildings.

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"As a father of a two-year-old and three-week-old it's important to me to have safe sanitized places to actually change our kids," said Crowley.

Fellow Representative Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) said he is a dad too, but he has other concerns about the bill and would likely vote against it.

"This seems to be an expensive new regulation on the back of taxpayers who are going to be paying for it," said Neylon.

A Milwaukee mom wonders if they pay to put them in women's bathrooms, why not put them in men's.

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Marcy Kempf eats with her family.

"As any parent you are trying to do a thousand things at once. To be able to rely on my husband to get a baby changed that would be helpful," said Marcy Kempf, mother of two.

The bill could be up for a vote next spring.