House committee backs study into elementary classroom screen time

A legislative committee voted to give House Memorial 2 a due-pass recommendation after educators and school leaders urged a study of screen time in elementary classrooms.

The memorial asks the Legislative Education Study Committee to examine how screens are used for instruction and assessment, and to report on their effects on early literacy, numeracy, social-emotional development and physical well‑being. The sponsor said the measure aims to inform instructional practice and complement pending assessment-related bills focused on elementary grades.

Whitney Holland, president of AOT New Mexico, told the committee that screens have expanded beyond developmentally appropriate uses and that frequent computer-based assessments and scripted instruction can displace hands-on learning and teacher interaction. "This calls for a study and for clear research based guidelines developed in collaboration with families and educators," Holland said.

Bethany Jarrell, NEA New Mexico president and an early childhood educator, said educators are seeing a decline in attention span and early literacy and urged New Mexico–specific research to guide technology use: "HM2 takes an important and responsible step toward understanding how screen use impacts learning, focus, and early literacy." Gary Washburn, superintendent of Carlsbad Municipal Schools, said a recent short loss of laptop access increased student engagement and reduced discipline referrals, and he urged "pretty serious guardrails" around classroom screen time.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on scope. Representative Gonzales asked whether the study would include secondary schools; the sponsor and witnesses said HM2 is focused on elementary classrooms because of developmental differences but could provide findings relevant to older students. Representative Torres Velasquez raised concerns about districts' use of artificial intelligence in assessments and about recordings of students’ voices and consent; the sponsor said AI and assessment practices would be reviewed when they are directly related to assessment methods.

Representative Roybal Caballero moved a due-pass recommendation for the memorial, and Representative Colin seconded. The chair asked for opposition; none was stated and the chair announced the memorial had a due pass.

Next steps noted by the chair included further interim work and coordination with other assessment bills. The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the due-pass was advanced by motion and no opposition was recorded.