House Education Committee advances bill requiring districts to adopt student cell‑phone policies

The House Education Committee voted 12‑1 to send House Bill 1135 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, advancing legislation that would require Colorado public school districts to adopt a local policy on student cell‑phone possession and use by July 2026.

The bill’s sponsors and supporters told the committee the measure is intended to reduce classroom distractions and support student mental health by ensuring districts have clear, local policies in place. Proponents — including educators, superintendents and pediatric mental‑health specialists — urged the committee to advance the bill while retaining district flexibility and accommodations for students with medical or special education needs.

Representative Lukens, a teacher and one of the bill’s sponsors, opened the hearing by saying limiting classroom distractions helps “improve[] student engagement” and allows teachers to move through material without constant interruptions. Co‑sponsor Representative Bradfield said the bill requires districts to adopt a policy by July 2026 but “refrains from impeding on their jurisdiction,” noting the text uses “shall” to require a policy while leaving the content of that policy to local boards.

Witnesses described classroom and mental‑health benefits from local phone policies already in place in some districts. Brian Hill, superintendent of…