Wisconsin Senate Bill SB935

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/6/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 346.89 (4) (a) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting the use of phones while driving a motor vehicle and providing a penalty.

Summary

SB935 would expand Wisconsin’s existing hands-free/phone-use driving restriction from a limited group of drivers to all persons operating a motor vehicle. Under current law, only drivers with a probationary license or an instruction permit are barred from using a cellular or other wireless telephone while driving, except to report an emergency. This bill would amend that provision so the prohibition applies more broadly to all drivers, while retaining the emergency exception. The bill also provides for a penalty by tying the change to the existing traffic code enforcement framework, and it would apply only to violations committed on or after the effective date. In practical terms, it would make phone use while driving a statewide traffic offense for all motorists, not just newer or less-experienced drivers, and would likely affect drivers, law enforcement, and courts handling traffic citations.

Impact

SB935 would amend s. 346.89 (4) (a) of the Wisconsin statutes to broaden the prohibition on using a cellular or other wireless telephone while driving a motor vehicle. The main legal effect is to extend the current restriction from probationary license holders and instruction permit holders to all drivers operating a motor vehicle, with the same emergency-reporting exception. This would increase the number of motorists subject to citation for phone use while driving and would expand enforcement under Wisconsin traffic law.

Sentiment

There is limited recorded discussion or voting history available for SB935, so the overall sentiment is difficult to gauge from committee materials. The bill’s subject matter suggests a public-safety rationale and aligns with broader distracted-driving enforcement efforts, but the available record shows no committee transcript debate or vote details. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Contention

The bill’s likely point of contention is the scope of the restriction: it would move from a targeted rule for probationary and permit drivers to a universal ban on phone use while driving, which could raise concerns about driver convenience, enforcement, and the breadth of government regulation. Supporters would likely emphasize roadway safety and distracted-driving prevention, while opponents may question whether a blanket prohibition is necessary or how it should be enforced. No specific objections or amendments are reflected in the available committee record.