Gov. Evers Signs Bipartisan Bill to Ban Cellphone Use in Schools

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed a bipartisan bill aimed at creating a statewide ban on cellphone use in the classroom.

Gov. Evers released the following statement:

“It has always been my belief that decisions like this should be made at the local level by local school districts and that we should trust local school boards to work with students, parents and families, educators, staff, and administrators to make decisions that make sense for students in their community. That continues to be my position. Nevertheless, my promise to the people of Wisconsin is to always do what’s best for our kids, and that obligation weighs heavily on me in considering this bill, as it does every bill affecting kids that reaches my desk.

“In 2025 the Year of the Kid, I am deeply concerned about the impacts cell phone and social media use are having on our kids and their mental health, school outcomes, and how our kids engage and interact with each other and the world around us. Our kids are struggling today, perhaps now more than ever. It’s really tough to be a kid these days, and we know that cellphones can be a major distraction from learning, a source of bullying, and a barrier to our kids’ important work of just being a kid.

“Innovative technology is an important part of our daily lives in the 21st Century, and it is exceedingly important our schools are preparing our kids for a 21st-century world, economy, and future. But as technology continues to evolve and expand into our schools, we must evolve with it, and that includes taking pragmatic steps to keep our kids safe and protect them from the harmful impacts of new and emerging technology.

“While I wish the Legislature would have taken a different approach with this legislation, I will never stop fighting for Wisconsin’s kids and working to do what’s best for them, which is why I am signing this bill into law today.”

A recent report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum showed most schools across the state of Wisconsin already restrict cellphone use at the local level. There is growing evidence that schools with phone bans foster stronger social connections, improved classroom focus, and better health and safety of students. A recent study found there were reductions in psychological distress among students attending a school with a phone ban.

According to research compiled by the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health: “Researchers have warned that too much time on a smartphone can impair the development of social skills, critical thinking, and impulse control. Many experts advise delaying smartphone use until age 14 or older, when kids’ brains are more developed. Kids with smartphones have increased risk of exposure to inappropriate content on the internet and cyberbullying. Researchers have tracked how technology addiction disrupts concentration and the ability to focus, but also how it leads to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.”

Support for phone bans at schools has been steadily increasing. Pew Research found that 74 percent of U.S. adults say they would support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class, up from 68 percent last fall.

Assembly Bill 2, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 42:

• Requires public school boards to adopt policies that generally prohibit students from using wireless communication devices, including cellphones, during school;
• Under the amended bill, school district-issued electronic devices would be exempt from the prohibition;
• A school board may also provide an exemption to the prohibition in the event of an emergency or perceived threat, to manage a student’s healthcare, as permitted under a student’s individualized education plan, or for educational purposes authorized by a teacher; and
• Under the bill, a public-school board must adopt a wireless communication device policy by July 1, 2026.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.