Committee approves amendments to bill restricting student device use, requires policy in handbooks

A committee of state representatives voted to advance Senate Bill 2354 after adopting amendments that tighten where and how students may keep electronic devices during instructional time and require districts to explain the policy to families.

The amendment, offered by Representative Schreiber Beck, clarified device language so that devices must be "turned off securely, stowed away and inaccessible to students during instructional time." The reworked language also requires a school district, upon completion of the policy required by the section, to ensure the policy "is explained to and discussed with its students and their parents and guardians" and to make the policy available in student and personnel handbooks.

Representatives debated procedure before accepting Senator Axman's prior amendment package and then applying the Schreiber Beck changes. Representative Novak moved and Representative Jonas seconded motions at key steps in the process to accept the amendments and to advance the bill.

The committee recorded a roll-call vote of 13 in favor and 1 opposed on the final motion to give Senate Bill 2354 a "do pass" recommendation. The committee named Representative Novak as the bill carrier.

Discussion during the amendment process focused on precise wording (for example, replacing earlier language with the phrase "stowed away") and on adding "guardian" to the list of family members who must be informed. Committee members also agreed to remove a subsection labeled "b" from the bill as part of the amendment package.

No further substantive changes to the bill were recorded during the committee session. The committee did not adopt any separate directives to staff or request additional reports tied to the bill during the hearing.

The bill will move forward as amended to the next legislative step with Representative Novak listed as bill carrier.