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Committee endorses statewide bell‑to‑bell phone baseline, preserves local exceptions
Summary
After extensive debate and public comment, the Education Committee recommended SB 69 (first substitute), which sets a statewide baseline prohibiting student use of cell phones and similar devices during school hours with narrow statewide exceptions and broad district authority to add local exceptions. A substitute motion to allow parental opt‑outs failed.
Senator Fillmore presented SB 69 (first substitute), arguing the state should set the default school‑day policy at zero device use and then allow districts and schools to add carefully crafted exceptions. "The state policy regarding these devices in schools ought to be at 0," he said, explaining that districts would be empowered to adopt local policies and add circumstances where devices may be used.
The bill enumerates state‑level exceptions (imminent health or safety threat, school emergency, SafeUT crisis line access, IEP/504 accommodations, and medical necessity) and permits districts to create additional exceptions. Senator Fillmore said the approach balances protecting students with allowing educators and districts to use devices where they support instruction and safety.
Public comment heavily favored the ban: digital‑wellness advocates, classroom teachers and students described positive outcomes from more restrictive policies, including better engagement and reduced distractions. Opponents — including representatives concerned about parental rights and enforceability — warned that narrow parental opt‑outs might undermine the policy; a substitute motion to permit written parental opt‑outs was debated and failed on the floor of the committee.
After debate and a failed substitute that would have created a written parental opt‑out process, the committee adopted the sponsor's substitute and voted to recommend SB 69 (first substitute) favorably to the floor.
