Senate Bill 957
Policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during the school day in public schools
Topics: Data processing, Public Instruction, Department of, School: Administration, Telephone
Stopped before the full Senate voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Feb 6, 2026
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.
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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, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 948. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
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
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 would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
2025 Wisconsin Act 42 requires each school board to adopt, by July 1, 2026, a policy that generally prohibits pupils from using wireless communication devices during instructional time. The policy must define a “wireless communication device” as a portable wireless device that is capable of providing voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties and must include cellular phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and gaming devices. The policy must include exceptions to the general prohibition against using wireless communication devices during instructional time 1) for emergencies and perceived threats, 2) to manage a pupil’s health care, 3) for a use included in an individualized education program or 504 plan, and 4) for a use authorized by a teacher for educational purposes and may include other exceptions if the school board determines that doing so is beneficial for pupil education or well-being.
Beginning on July 1, 2027, this bill replaces that wireless communication device policy requirement with a requirement that each school board adopt a policy that generally prohibits pupils from using wireless communication devices during the school day. Under the bill, “school day” includes instructional time, recess, the time pupils transfer between classes, and the lunch period on each day on which school is in session. The bill generally includes the same requirements and exceptions for wireless communication device policies as Act 42. The bill adds that a wireless communication device policy may include the use of pouches or other storage devices for wireless communication devices or a prohibition on possession of a wireless communication device on school premises.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . 1 is a Democrat and 1 is a Republican.
11 more lawmakers .
See all 13 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara · Republican, Senate
- Kelda Roys · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (11)
- Dave Armstrong · Republican, Assembly
- Lindee Brill · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Paul Melotik · Republican, Assembly
- Amanda Nedweski · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Republican, Assembly
- Jamie Wall · Democrat, Senate
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Education vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 1 · Mar 6, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Mar 6, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.
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Mar 3, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 10, 2026
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Feb 6, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Education.
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Feb 6, 2026
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Roys; cosponsored by Representatives Brill, Kitchens, Dittrich, Armstrong, Donovan, Knodl, Melotik, Nedweski, O'Connor and Piwowarczyk
- Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Senator Wall added as a coauthor
- Mar 3, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 1
- Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 23, 2026 · 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.
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
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
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
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
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote