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Committee debate on student cellphone policy exposes sharp divisions; no final committee action
Summary
A lengthy Senate Education Committee debate May 21 over House Bill 2,251 — which would set statewide rules for student cellphone use in schools — highlighted strong division between members who want state guidance and those who argued the bill is too prescriptive and risks harming students who rely on devices for accommodation.
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.
Chair Frederick framed the options available to the committee — voting on the bill, sending it to the Rules Committee for further work or taking other steps to keep it alive before session…
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