Wisc Lawmakers Advance Bill To Ban Student Cell Phones All School Day

Wisconsin School Cell Phone Ban Moves Forward

The Wisconsin school cell phone ban advanced after Assembly Bill 948 cleared the Senate Committee on Education. The committee approved the measure with a 4-to-1 vote.

The proposal now moves to the full Wisconsin Senate for consideration. If lawmakers approve it, the bill will go to Gov. Tony Evers.

The statewide policy would take effect on July 1, 2027. It would prohibit students from using cell phones during the entire school day.

Currently, state law only requires schools to ban phones during instructional time. However, students can still use phones during lunch or passing periods.

Lawmakers Cite Concerns About Student Phone Use

Supporters say the partial ban has created unintended consequences in schools. Students often shift their phone use to non-classroom times.

Rep. Linda Brill of Sheboygan Falls discussed the issue during legislative hearings. She described feedback from school officials about student behavior.

Brill said lawmakers heard concerns during a task force visit to Oostburg. Superintendent Kevin Bruggink reportedly described changes in student habits.

Students began using phones heavily during breaks and lunchtime. Some also took longer bathroom breaks to use their devices.

Brill said the change also affected social interactions among students. She described a situation where many students spent lunch on their phones.

School Leaders Request Statewide Policy

Sen. John Jagler of Watertown said several school leaders supported a statewide rule. He said superintendents asked lawmakers to create a uniform policy.

According to Jagler, some administrators preferred state action rather than local decisions. Therefore, they encouraged lawmakers to pass a statewide requirement.

However, the proposal faced opposition in the committee. Sen. Chris Larson of Milwaukee cast the only vote against the bill.

Larson said lawmakers should focus more on social media access among minors. He suggested restrictions on youth social media use could address related problems.

Details of the Wisconsin School Cell Phone Ban Proposal

The Wisconsin school cell phone ban would prohibit students from using phones throughout the school day. However, the bill includes certain exceptions.

Students who require phones for special education programs could still use them. The exception applies to devices included in an individual education plan.

Schools would decide disciplinary measures for violations. Therefore, local districts would still manage enforcement policies.

Lawmakers have also discussed funding for special phone pouches. These pouches would keep devices locked during the school day.

Support and Opposition to the Bill

The phone pouches would cost about $20 to $30 each. Schools could use them to prevent students from accessing devices.

Several organizations opposed the legislation during the process. The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators registered opposition.

However, the American Diabetes Association expressed support for the bill. Lawmakers said the measure is part of broader discussions about online safety.

The Wisconsin Assembly previously approved the bill on the final day of its session. The legislation must now pass the Senate before reaching the governor’s desk.