Board hears state legislative agenda: cellphone limits, early-literacy push and athletics bill among items
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Summary
Board members heard a summary of several state bills that could affect district policy, including SB 69 (device restrictions), SB 241 (early literacy/third-grade reading), HB 293 (limits on practice hours) and HB 170 (board referendum process). Trustees were told the district’s legislative committee is tracking and refining positions.
The Weber School District board’s study session opened with an update on several state bills that trustees say could change local policy and operations.
Unidentified Speaker 3, a trustee active on the district’s legislative committee (JLC), said the committee has supported SB 69, which would require stronger local policies restricting cell phones and smart devices during school hours — potentially enforcing ‘bell-to-bell’ limits for younger students. “The JLC did support SB 69 to this point,” the speaker said, noting the measure aims to reduce screen time tied to mental-health concerns but could also limit younger students’ access to classroom technology.
The committee also summarized SB 241, described as an early-literacy bill sponsored by Senator Milner that emphasizes third-grade reading proficiency. “It’s really centered on that third grade level reading goal,” the speaker said, adding the district will address the topic in a fuller presentation at the regular board meeting.
The board heard that HB 293 (sponsored by Rep. Katie Hall) would impose moratoriums on certain high-school sports and reduce allowable practice limits from a 20-hour weekly cap to 15 hours and no more than three hours per day during the week. The JLC said it is leaning toward opposing that bill, citing concerns about local control, equity for students in lower-resource schools and the possibility that districts would be forced to fill a governance role now handled by the Utah High School Activities Association.
On HB 170, which would create a referendum pathway for local residents to challenge board-adopted local laws, the JLC has not taken a final position but expressed concern about erosion of local control. A board member noted the draft contains protections that would keep a measure from referendum if a supermajority (five of seven) board vote occurs.
Trustees asked staff to continue tracking these bills and to bring details or recommended positions to future meetings. The board’s legislative committee said it will provide updates at the next JLC meeting and continue working with sponsors where appropriate.
The board will discuss several of these topics again at the regular board meeting, where staff presentations will provide more specific operational implications and draft policy language if needed.