WI AB 810 would have required all Wisconsin public and charter schools to provide at least 60 minutes of recess each school day for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, starting in the 2026–27 school year. The bill defined recess as supervised, unstructured time for physical activity, play, organized games, or social engagement, explicitly barred the use of personal electronic devices (phones, tablets, computers) during the minutes that count toward the 60‑minute requirement, and prohibited withholding recess as punishment except when a student poses an immediate safety threat. It also directed the Department of Public Instruction to provide annual guidance and model professional development on implementing the new recess rules and raised the cap on how much recess can count toward required instructional hours from 30 minutes to 60 minutes per day. The bill ultimately failed to pass as of March 23, 2026.
Why It Matter to MAHA
The Make America Healthy Again Movement supports WI AB 810 because it would guarantee a full hour of daily, device‑free, active recess for K–6 students, directly advancing MAHA’s focus on reducing sedentary time and improving children’s physical and mental health. Protecting recess from being taken away as punishment and recognizing up to 60 minutes of it as instructional time both elevate movement and social play to core parts of the school day, which fits MAHA’s view that activity is as fundamental as academics for healthy brain and body development. Even though the bill failed this session, its structure provides a strong model for future MAHA‑aligned recess legislation in Wisconsin and other states.