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Committee backs default limiting cell-phone use in schools while preserving district flexibility

Utah Senate Education Committee · January 21, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

A bill setting a state default that cell phones should not be used bell-to-bell in schools advanced after hours of public comment; the measure preserves district flexibility and includes exceptions for SafeUT, IEP/504 plans and medical devices.

The Senate education committee voted to recommend a bill that sets a statewide default that cell phones should not be used during the school day, while preserving local control for districts to craft exceptions.

Senator Fillmore, sponsor of the measure, said the bill is not a ban but a way to reset the default and ask districts how to integrate devices into learning. He said the rule would apply from the morning bell to dismissal and that districts retain authority to allow use where appropriate. He…

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