Assembly Bill 496
Prohibiting electronic text messaging while driving and providing a penalty
Topics: Data processing, Drivers' education, Forfeiture, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Telecommunications, Telephone
Became law
The governor signed it on May 6, 2010. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Oct 15, 2009
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jan 19, 2010
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Apr 13, 2010
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2009 Wisconsin Act 220
Latest entry in the official record, May 10, 2010: “Published 5-19-2010”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Current law prohibits inattentive driving of a motor vehicle, which means that a driver of a motor vehicle may not be so engaged or occupied as to interfere with the safe driving of the vehicle. Any person convicted of inattentive driving may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $400.
This bill prohibits a person from driving while composing or sending an electronic text message. The prohibition does not apply to operators of authorized emergency vehicles or to the use of a global positioning system device. Persons who violate this prohibition may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $400 for a first offense, and not less than $200 nor more than $800 for a second or subsequent conviction within a year.
Who's behind it
30 lawmakers are its . 22 are Democrats and 8 are Republicans.
10 more lawmakers .
See all 40 names Hide the names
Authors (30)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Peter Barca · Democrat, Assembly
- Chuck Benedict · Democrat, Assembly
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Penny Bernard Schaber · Democrat, Assembly
- Garey Bies · Republican, Assembly
- Spencer Black · Democrat, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Fred Clark · Democrat, Assembly
- David Cullen · Democrat, Assembly
- Scott Gunderson · Republican, Assembly
- Gary Hebl · Democrat, Assembly
- Steve Hilgenberg · Democrat, Assembly
- Gordon Hintz · Democrat, Assembly
- Kim Hixson · Democrat, Assembly
- Mary Hubler · Democrat, Assembly
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Margaret Krusick · Democrat, Assembly
- Thomas Lothian · Republican, Assembly
- Cory Mason · Democrat, Assembly
- Sandy Pasch · Democrat, Assembly
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
- Mark Radcliffe · Democrat, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- John Steinbrink · Democrat, Assembly
- Barbara Toles · Democrat, Assembly
- Robert Turner · Democrat, Assembly
- Terry Van Akkeren · Democrat, Assembly
- Karl Van Roy · Republican, Assembly
- Ted Zigmunt · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (10)
- Alan Lasee · Republican, Senate
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Dave Hansen · Democrat, Senate
- Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
- John Lehman · Democrat, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
- Amendment AA1-AB496
- Amendment ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA1-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA2-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA3-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA4-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA5-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA1-AA5-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA6-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment AA7-ASA1-AB496
- Amendment SA1-AB496
- Amendment SA2-AB496
- Amendment SSA1-AB496
- LC Amendment Memo
How lawmakers voted
There were 6 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Transportation vote on an amendment
Passed, 12 to 0 · Nov 10, 2009
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Failed, 47 to 49 · Jan 19, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Refused to table Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1, Ayes 47, Noes 49”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 89 to 6 · Jan 19, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 89, Noes 6, Paired 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Failed, 3 to 3 · Apr 5, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report concurrence without recommendation by committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Ayes 3, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote on an amendment
Passed, 22 to 11 · Apr 13, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Senate amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 22, Noes 11”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote to pass it
Passed, 30 to 3 · Apr 13, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 30, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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May 10, 2010
The new law was published.
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May 6, 2010
The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 220.
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May 4, 2010
Sent to the governor.
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Apr 15, 2010
“Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)
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Apr 15, 2010
The Assembly adopted it.
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Apr 13, 2010
The Senate passed it too, 30 to 3.
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Apr 13, 2010
The Senate adopted it.
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Apr 13, 2010
“Point of order that Senate substitute amendment 1 not germane well taken” (the official wording)
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Apr 5, 2010
“Report concurrence without recommendation by committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Ayes 3, Noes 3” (the official wording)
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Feb 11, 2010
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 22, 2010
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
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Jan 19, 2010
The Senate received it.
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Jan 19, 2010
The Assembly passed it, 89 to 6.
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Jan 19, 2010
The Assembly adopted it.
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Nov 10, 2009
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Nov 10, 2009
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 12 to 0.
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Oct 22, 2009
The committee held a public hearing.
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Oct 15, 2009
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
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Oct 15, 2009
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Oct 15, 2009 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Barca, Turner, Bernard Schaber, Zigmunt, Steinbrink, A. Ott, Clark, Sinicki, Bies, Pasch, Hilgenberg, Petrowski, Hixson, Hintz, Radcliffe, Kerkman, Benedict, Mason, Gunderson, Black, Hebl, Brooks, Cullen, Berceau, Hubler, Lothian, Krusick, Van Roy, Van Akkeren and Toles;Cosponsored by Senators Lehman, A. Lasee, Hansen, Olsen, Carpenter, Harsdorf, Cowles, Taylor, Darling and Schultz
- Oct 15, 2009 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation
- Oct 22, 2009 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Oct 29, 2009 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Oct 29, 2009 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 offered by committee on Transportation
- Nov 10, 2009 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 0
- Nov 10, 2009 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 0
- Nov 10, 2009 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 6, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Barca
- Jan 13, 2010 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-19-2010 by committee on Rules
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Schneider
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 laid on table
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 2 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Schneider
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 2 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 laid on table
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representatives Huebsch and Schneider
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Refused to table Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1, Ayes 47, Noes 49
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Refused to reject Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1, Ayes 47, Noes 49
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Refused to adopt Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1, Ayes 46, Noes 50
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 4 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Huebsch
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 4 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly amendment 5 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representatives Huebsch and Barca
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 5 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representatives Barca, Turner and Bernard Schaber
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly amendment 5 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 5 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 6 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Krusick
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 6 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 7 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Kessler
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 7 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 89, Noes 6, Paired 2
- Jan 19, 2010 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 19, 2010 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jan 22, 2010 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources
- Feb 11, 2010 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 1, 2010 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Apr 5, 2010 · Senate
Report concurrence without recommendation by committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Ayes 3, Noes 3
- Apr 5, 2010 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 8, 2010 · Senate
Placed on calendar 4-13-2010 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Read a second time
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Leibham
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Point of order that Senate substitute amendment 1 not germane well taken
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator A. Lasee
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 adopted
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 2 offered by Senator Grothman
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Senate amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 22, Noes 11
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 30, Noes 3
- Apr 13, 2010 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 1 adopted)
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Senate amendment 1 concurred in
- Apr 15, 2010 · Assembly
Action ordered immediately messaged
- Apr 22, 2010 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled
- May 4, 2010 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 5-4-2010
- May 6, 2010 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 5-5-2010. 2009 Wisconsin Act 220
- May 10, 2010 · Assembly
Published 5-19-2010
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote