Committee introduces RS 32321 to fund 'bell-to-bell' mobile-device policies in schools

Representative Chris Mathias presented RS 32321 as a voluntary, evidence-based approach for school districts that choose to adopt strict "bell-to-bell" mobile-device policies. Mathias told the House Committee on Education that the measure preserves local control rather than mandating district action, but would create a small state fund to reimburse districts that choose to implement these policies.

Mathias said a $1,500 grant is the proposed per-district award, chosen because the largest district completed a comparable implementation for about that amount. Using counts of 115 school districts and 77 charter schools, the sponsor estimated an upper-bound fund need of $285,000 but noted the figure is conservative because many districts have already adopted such policies or accepted prior grant funding under the governor’s Phone Free Learning executive order.

The RS proposes a streamlined application requiring contact information, a proposed bell-to-bell policy, a list of equipment or services requested, projected costs and other supporting details. Mathias also said the State Board of Education has offered to use existing data streams to prepare and submit a report to the legislature (JFAC, this committee and the Senate Education Committee) assessing whether districts that receive the state grant show statistically significant changes tied to the policy.

Committee members asked implementation questions. Representative Hawkins questioned the need for more study given existing research that links mobile devices to distraction; Mathias answered that the State Board’s assessment would be narrowly tailored to whether a modest state investment produces measurable effects. Representative Ehart and others raised concerns about emergency communications and student access in crisis; Mathias said emergency communications are handled through school phone systems and emergency operations plans, and reminded the committee that the RS carves out exceptions for devices necessary for educational or health-monitoring purposes.

Members also raised scale and cost concerns for large schools, administrative overhead for devices storage ("cubbies" or other systems), and whether districts could combine this $1,500 award with the governor’s prior $5,000 grants; Mathias said the executive-order grants were federal COVID funds that may already be exhausted and should not be relied on. Representative Sauter moved to introduce RS 32321. The motion to introduce the RS was called and several members were noted in opposition during the voice vote (Representative Mendyve and Representative Hawkins were noted as opposed and Representative Visniewski was recorded as opposed). The motion was carried and the RS was introduced for future public consideration.

The introduction creates a bill number and a hearing record for RS 32321; no final policy or appropriation was adopted at this hearing.