Bill banning cell phone use in schools passes Senate
MADISON (WKOW) — The Wisconsin State Senate returned Tuesday for the first time since its budget approval in early July. Among the bills passed during Tuesday’s session was one concerning the use of phones by kids during school hours.
Senate Bill 29, which requires school boards to adopt rules banning phone use during school hours, was a focal point of the session. The debate focused on emergency situations.
Democratic Sen. Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) shared a personal experience during the debate. Her daughter, who attends a high school near Abundant Life Christian School, was able to send her mom texts during the shooting at ALCS on December 16, 2024.
“For a child in a lockdown situation, a mobile phone is not a distraction, it is a lifeline. It’s the most direct way to contact a parent,” said Ratcliff.
Ratcliff emphasized that individual school districts should decide on phone rules. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) expressed concerns about cellphones interfering with first responders’ communication during emergencies. She said law enforcement officers have reached out to her about kids needing to pay attention during emergencies and not use their cellphones.
The bill was ultimately passed in the Senate and will now go to the desk of Gov. Tony Evers.
