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Bills from the 2021–22 session

Senate Bill 348

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.

  1. Introduced, passed

    May 14, 2021

  2. Committee, stopped here

    Stopped here. No public hearing was held.

  3. Senate vote, not reached

  4. Assembly vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 15, 2022: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

It never got a hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.

Read the bill

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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

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

2 senators are its ⁠. 1 is a Democrat and 1 is a Republican.

13 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 15 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (13)

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

  1. Mar 15, 2022

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Jul 20, 2021 to Nov 18, 2021

    2 more representatives signed on in support.

  3. Jun 18, 2021

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  4. May 14, 2021

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

  5. May 14, 2021

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. May 14, 2021 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Wanggaard and L. Taylor; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Armstrong, Billings, Emerson, James, Murphy, Ohnstad, Petryk, Rozar, Snodgrass and Subeck

  2. May 14, 2021 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government

  3. Jun 9, 2021 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  4. Jun 18, 2021 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jul 20, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Andraca added as a cosponsor

  6. Nov 18, 2021 · Senate

    Representative Kitchens added as a cosponsor

  7. Mar 15, 2022 · 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.

More in the glossary

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

More in the glossary

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

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

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