Senate Bill 306
Driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telecommunications device and providing a penalty
Topics: Motor vehicle: Driver's license, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Telecommunications, Telephone, Youth
Stopped in committee
It had a but no committee vote, so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Sep 24, 2009
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. It had a hearing but no committee vote.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It sat with the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Current law prohibits inattentive driving, 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 using a wireless telecommunications device while driving. A "wireless telecommunications device" is defined as any cellular telephone, two-way radio or citizens band radio, personal digital assistant, or other device while being used by the device's operator to transmit verbal communications, electronic mail, text messages, or any other electronic communication to one or more persons not physically present with the device's operator, but does not include any global positioning system device installed in or on a vehicle.
Read the full summary Show less
An exception is provided for a person who uses a wireless telecommunications device that allows the person to talk and listen without holding the device or any handset or receiver and the person does not hold or touch the device or any handset or receiver while driving the motor vehicle. This exception does not apply to a person who holds a probationary license or an instruction permit and who is under 18 years of age. Exceptions to the prohibition are also provided for use of a wireless telecommunications device in response to an emergency or by an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle. A person found guilty of violating this provision may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $400.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Democrats.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Fred A. Risser · Democrat, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (4)
- Spencer Black · Democrat, Assembly
- Mary Hubler · Democrat, Assembly
- Jeff Smith · Democrat, Senate
- Karl Van Roy · Republican, Assembly
What happened
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Apr 28, 2010
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Oct 15, 2009
The committee held a public hearing.
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Sep 24, 2009
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
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Sep 24, 2009
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Sep 24, 2009 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Taylor and Risser;Cosponsored by Representatives Smith, Black, Hubler and Van Roy
- Sep 24, 2009 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources
- Oct 15, 2009 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Apr 28, 2010 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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