House education committee introduces bill asking districts to adopt classroom cell‑phone rules

Representative Jaren Crane, R‑Nampa, told the House Committee on Education on Feb. 13 that RS32063 would require school districts to adopt written cell‑phone policies by Aug. 1 and include those policies in district conduct manuals. "At a minimum such policy shall prohibit the use of wireless electronic communication devices in classrooms during the periods of academic instruction," Crane said, reading the bill's text.

The one‑paragraph proposal, which Crane said is modeled on South Carolina law, leaves details to local boards of trustees and does not include a fiscal note. Proponents said the bill is intentionally short to preserve local control. "I wanted that to be on local control," Crane said, adding districts can make exceptions for students who serve on call for community services or who have medical needs.

Opponents and several members pressed for clearer language after members raised concerns that the bill's broad phrasing might unintentionally ban school‑provided devices. Representative Nelson warned a literal reading of lines 22–24 could be interpreted so broadly that "we've basically said they can't have any electronic devices." Representative Clough pointed to the bill's definition section, noting it lists "any electronic device including but not limited to a telephone, personal digital assistant, paging device, text messaging device or other device with similar functions that can be used to wirelessly communicate with another person," which he said narrows the focus to cell phones. Representative Hawkins, who moved to introduce the RS, called the measure "very clean, very simple" and cited evidence presented in other hearings about the devices' effects on classroom learning.

Committee members agreed the public should have the opportunity to comment on any printed bill. The committee voted to introduce RS32063 for print. When the motion to introduce was called, the committee voice vote recorded ayes and three members who asked to be recorded as voting nay: Representative Plough, Representative Nelson and Representative Wisniewski. The motion carried and the RS will be printed for a possible future hearing.

The committee discussion repeatedly distinguished the bill's statewide minimum (a classroom ban during instruction) from local discretion about exceptions and return procedures for confiscated devices. Members asked the sponsor to consider clarifying language so that school‑owned instructional devices and accommodations for students with 504 plans or individualized education programs are clearly preserved.