Assembly Bill 338
The use of a portable wireless communication device while driving and providing a penalty. (FE)
Stopped in committee
It never got a , 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
May 21, 2021
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 15, 2022: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Assembly Committee on State Affairs. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill prohibits any person from using a portable wireless communication device (device) while driving, except for certain hands-free use, use by public safety workers, or certain use related to an emergency.
Current law prohibits inattentive driving of a motor vehicle, which means that a driver of a motor vehicle may not be engaged or occupied with an activity, other than driving the vehicle, that interferes with the safe driving of the vehicle. Persons who violate this prohibition may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $400. Also under current law, a person driving under an instruction permit or a probationary license is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while using a cellular phone, except to report an emergency. Also, a person is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while using a cellular phone in a highway construction zone, except to report an emergency. Persons who violate either of these prohibitions may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for a first offense, and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for a second or subsequent offense within one year.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill prohibits any person from using a device while driving. Exceptions are provided for the use of a device by public safety workers and public utility employees, use to report an emergency, and for certain hands-free use by persons who hold a license other than a probationary license or an instruction permit. Persons who violate this prohibition may be required to forfeit not more than $100 for a first offense and not more than $200 for a second or subsequent offense.
Who's behind it
11 lawmakers are its . 6 are Republicans and 5 are Democrats.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 15 names Hide the names
Authors (11)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Jodi Emerson · Democrat, Assembly
- Jesse James · Republican, Senate
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
- Warren Petryk · Republican, Assembly
- Donna Rozar · Republican, Assembly
- Lee Snodgrass · Democrat, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (4)
- Deb Andraca · Democrat, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
What happened
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Mar 15, 2022
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jul 20, 2021 to Nov 18, 2021
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Jun 10, 2021
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 21, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.
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May 21, 2021
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 21, 2021 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Spiros, Armstrong, Billings, Emerson, James, Murphy, Ohnstad, Petryk, Rozar, Snodgrass and Subeck; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard and L. Taylor
- May 21, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs
- Jun 10, 2021 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Spiros
- Jun 10, 2021 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jul 20, 2021 · Assembly
Representative Andraca added as a coauthor
- Nov 18, 2021 · Assembly
Representative Kitchens added as a coauthor
- Mar 15, 2022 · Assembly
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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate