Wisconsin lawmakers are advancing legislation that would prohibit students from using cell phones throughout the entire school day. Assembly Bill 948 cleared the Senate Committee on Education with a 4 to 1 vote and now heads to the full Senate.
If approved by the Senate, the measure would be sent to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, Just The News reported. The statewide ban would take effect July 1, 2027. The proposal expands on an existing state law that requires school districts to adopt policies prohibiting cell phones during instructional time by July 1.
Lawmakers said the current law still allows students to use phones during lunch, passing periods, and other non-instructional times.
Rep. Linda Brill, a Republican from Sheboygan Falls, said lawmakers heard about the impact of the partial ban during a legislative task force visit to Oostburg. Brill said Superintendent Kevin Bruggink told lawmakers the policy had caused students to concentrate their phone use outside of classroom hours.
“Now they’re late to classes, they’re taking 15-minute bathroom breaks, kids aren’t talking at lunch, there’s actually a term for it called silent lunch,” Brill said. “Kids are getting to lunch and they’re literally in their phones and they’re not even talking to one another.”
Sen. John Jagler, a Republican from Watertown, said school leaders in his district asked the state to require phone bans.
Jagler said several superintendents told him they preferred a statewide mandate rather than leaving the decision to local districts.
“They were too cowardly to do it themselves,” Jagler said.
Sen. Chris Larson, a Democrat from Milwaukee, cast the committee’s lone vote against the bill. Larson said lawmakers should instead consider targeting social media access for minors.
“I feel like we already took a kick at the cell phone ban and pushing for the schools to go in that direction. I’m just curious why we’re not trying to limit social media access to youth because of the damage,” Larson said.
Brill said the legislative task force is considering a broader package of bills related to online safety.
She said the proposals include legislation addressing social media and increased resources for the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Assembly Bill 948 would prohibit student cell phone use for the entire school day.
The measure includes an exception for students who require a phone as part of special education programming under an individual education plan.
Disciplinary action for violations would be determined by individual school districts.
Lawmakers have also discussed including funding in the next state budget to help schools purchase cell phone pouches.
The pouches would cost approximately $20 to $30 each and would keep phones locked and unusable until the school day ends.
Several organizations registered opposition to the bill, including the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.
The American Diabetes Association registered support for the measure.
The legislation was previously passed by the Wisconsin Assembly on the final day of its session.
The bill must still be approved by the full Senate before heading to the governor’s desk.