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Sponsor proposes limited in‑class cellphone restriction; work‑study led to targeted amendment
Summary
Representative Melissa Litchfield told the committee HB 781 would restrict student cellphone use during class instruction time; the House committee created a bipartisan work study and the bill before the Senate narrows the scope to classroom instruction while allowing medical and special‑needs exceptions and local discretion.
Representative Melissa Litchfield introduced House Bill 781 and described the bill as a response to testimony and conference findings about phone use in classrooms. She said the original concept included a pilot to purchase phone‑storage pouches (a vendor named Yondr was cited) but that budget constraints removed the appropriation; the House Education Policy Committee established a work study and produced the amendment now before the Senate that limits the restriction to class instruction time and includes carved‑out exceptions for medical devices and documented needs.
Litchfield said teachers asked the legislature to take the policy out of classroom discretion and make a statewide expectation for classroom instruction time. "Teachers are very hungry for us to make this a state law," she said, adding that the House panel met on a bipartisan basis and agreed to a limited version to avoid a full bell‑to‑bell prohibition.
Committee members asked operational questions about implementation, special‑needs and medical exceptions, and whether pilot funding could be revisited. Litchfield said the House had considered a pilot (she described pouch costs) but removed the financial note given revenue constraints; she said the amendment represents a compromise intended to give teachers support while allowing local implementation and carve‑outs.
Ending: The hearing closed after sponsor testimony and no additional public witnesses; the record shows the House moved a work‑study approach and narrowed the bill to classroom instructional time.
