Committee debate on student cellphone policy exposes sharp divisions; no final committee action

The Senate Education Committee devoted substantial time on May 21 to a broad and often fractious discussion of House Bill 2,251, a measure that would create statewide rules about student cellphone use in schools. Committee members and outside commenters described a wide range of stakeholder positions: some districts and parents urged stronger restrictions to improve classroom focus, while many superintendents, principals and teachers warned that a prescriptive, unfunded statewide mandate would create enforcement and equity problems.