An Act to repeal 120.12 (29); to amend 115.28 (38), 119.04 (1) and 120.12 (29) (title); to create 120.12 (30) of the statutes; Relating to: policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during the school day in public schools.
AB948 revises Wisconsin’s school-cellphone policy framework by shifting the focus from banning wireless communication devices during instructional time to banning their use during the entire school day in public schools. The bill repeals the current statutory provision created by 2025 Wisconsin Act 42 and replaces it with a new requirement that each school board adopt a policy generally prohibiting pupil use of wireless communication devices during the school day, which the bill defines to include instructional time, recess, class transitions, and lunch.
The bill preserves the core exceptions already recognized under current law. School boards must allow exceptions for emergencies or perceived threats, to manage a pupil’s health care, for uses required by an individualized education program or Section 504 plan, and for teacher-authorized educational use. It also expressly allows districts to adopt more restrictive rules, including use of pouches or other storage devices, prohibitions on possession of devices on school premises during the school day, and confiscation for the remainder of the day as a consequence for violations.
AB948 also adds new administrative requirements. School boards must provide each pupil a copy of the policy annually and submit the policy to the Department of Public Instruction by October 1, 2027, with annual notice of any changes thereafter. The bill amends related cross-references in the statutes governing school district policy reporting and first-class city school districts so that the new school-day policy replaces the prior instructional-time policy.
The bill’s impact is to broaden and standardize local school board authority and obligations regarding student device use, while leaving districts discretion to adopt stricter rules than the statewide minimum. It affects public school pupils, school boards, and the Department of Public Instruction, and it changes the timing and scope of the existing wireless-device policy requirement beginning July 1, 2027.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill materials is neutral-to-supportive in tone, with the proposal presented as a policy refinement rather than a controversial overhaul. No committee transcript or recorded vote debate was provided, and the bill ultimately failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. The main point of potential contention is the expanded restriction from instructional time to the full school day, especially the inclusion of recess, lunch, and passing periods, along with the option for districts to prohibit possession or use storage pouches, which could be viewed as more restrictive than current practice.
AB948 repeals and replaces the existing statutory requirement in s. 120.12 (29) governing wireless communication device policies in public schools, effective July 1, 2027, and creates s. 120.12 (30) with a broader school-day prohibition. It also updates related reporting provisions in ss. 115.28 (38) and 119.04 (1) so school boards must submit policies to the Department of Public Instruction and the legislative council, and it preserves authority for districts to adopt stricter local rules. The bill affects public school districts, school boards, pupils, and DPI by expanding the time period covered by the device restriction and adding annual notice and reporting requirements.
The bill appears generally supportive of restricting student wireless device use in schools, with the policy framed as a continuation and expansion of an existing statewide approach. Because no committee transcript or vote breakdown is available, there is no detailed record of debate, but the measure’s structure suggests an emphasis on classroom focus, student well-being, and local implementation flexibility. The fact that it failed to concur indicates the proposal did not ultimately secure final legislative agreement.
The most notable point of contention is the scope of the prohibition: AB948 moves from banning device use during instructional time to banning use during the entire school day, including recess, lunch, and class transitions. That broader reach may raise concerns among opponents about student access, parental contact, and enforcement burden. Another possible area of disagreement is the bill’s allowance for more restrictive district policies, including pouches, possession bans, and confiscation, which could be viewed as giving schools substantial discretion to impose tougher discipline than the statewide baseline.