Wisconsin legislators are moving forward with Assembly Bill 948, a measure designed to implement a total prohibition of student cell phone use throughout the entire school day. The bill recently passed through the Senate Committee on Education with a 4 to 1 vote and is now headed to the full Wisconsin Senate. If approved and signed by Governor Tony Evers, the mandate would take effect on July 1, 2027. This legislation significantly expands upon current state laws that only require school districts to restrict phone usage during active instructional periods.
Proponents of the bill, including Representative Linda Brill and Senator John Jagler, argue that the existing partial ban is insufficient and has led to unintended behavioral consequences. During a task force visit to Oostburg, lawmakers heard that students are now concentrating their screen time during lunch and passing periods, leading to the phenomenon of “silent lunches” where students no longer socialize. Furthermore, educators have reported that students are taking extended bathroom breaks and arriving late to classes to maximize their phone usage. Senator Jagler noted that many school superintendents have specifically requested a statewide mandate to avoid the local political friction associated with implementing district-level bans.
The bill faced opposition from Senator Chris Larson, who cast the lone dissenting vote, suggesting that the legislature should focus more on regulating social media access for minors rather than the hardware itself. While the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators has registered opposition to the bill, it has received support from the American Diabetes Association. To facilitate the transition, lawmakers are discussing the allocation of state funds for cell phone pouches. These specialized locking bags, estimated to cost $20 to $30 each, would keep devices secure and inaccessible until the end of the school day. Assembly Bill 948 does include critical exceptions for students who require mobile devices as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), while leaving specific disciplinary protocols to the discretion of individual school boards.
