School cellphone ban passes Oklahoma House as lawmakers debate library book bans, policies

Yahoo

13-02-2025

A bill that would prohibit public school students in Oklahoma from using their cellphones on campus drew bipartisan support as it passed the House Thursday and stirred debate regarding local control.
Authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, HB 1276 requires school districts to adopt a policy to prohibit usage of cellphones and personal electronic devices by students on school grounds. However, a section of the bill offers an opt out for districts, allowing them to choose to not adopt a cellphone prohibition policy.
If passed, the bill would take effect July 1 and start applying in the 2025-26 school year.
Dubbed "Bell to Bell, No Cell" legislation, the bill passed the House Thursday with 82 votes in favor of the bill and nine Republicans voting against it: Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore; Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola; Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon; Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler; Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle; Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby; Rep. Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow; Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland; and Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar.
The bill prompted debate as to whether it would impede local control.
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"Don't you find it curious, though, that we have to tell (school districts) the best practice on the thing that most of us know is best for these kids, yet we're not allowed to weigh in too much on other issues related to library books on shelves or curriculum or so many other policies?" Lepak asked Caldwell.
This is why there's an opt out in the bill, Caldwell answered, adding that members of the House have voiced to him that they couldn't vote in favor of the bill if there wasn't.
"You should come into a Common Education meeting sometime, and you can hear me rail against the coin flip that we usually do on just about every bill about whether it's a local control day or not a local control day," Caldwell said. "I've even talked about whether we need a decoder ring."
Caldwell added that members of the House have voiced to him that unless there was an opt out in the bill, they couldn't vote in favor of it due to local control concerns.
"If it was truly up to me, I would rather just say we're going to do this because it's the right thing," Caldwell said.
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Kevin West, R-Moore, asked Caldwell if he'd agree that whether a school district decides to adopt a cellphone ban or not, the bill would bring more awareness to parents so that they can provide their input to their school boards.
Caldwell agreed with West and said districts across the country that have already adopted cellphone bans have the most success when they engage with parents.
"I hope there isn't a single district that chooses the opt out," Caldwell said. "I want to encourage every parent, if you're at a district that is talking about an opt out, by all means, you need to get involved in that conversation."
The bill protects local control, said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. It simultaneously allows "kids to be kids and teachers to teach when at school," the speaker said in a news release.
"I am proud that our caucus identified this as a priority before session and moved quickly to make this happen," Hilbert said.
Caldwell agreed with Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, that cellphone pouches are one of the best ways to keep students off of their phones during school hours.
Cellphone pouches are small bags that lock when closed and require a magnet to unlock them. The Yondr Pouch is a popular brand that is already utilized by some schools across the country.
Dollens asked Caldwell if there's a funding mechanism in HB 1276 or if the author planned to ask for appropriations to help schools cover the cost of pouches.
Caldwell said the bill just addresses policy, and there's no funding mechanism in the bil. He said there are ways to prevent cellphone usage for free like placing them in lockers or backpacks.
A similar bill, SB 139 authored by Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, is eligible to be heard in the Senate and would create a grant program through the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide funds to schools for implementing a cellphone ban. Unlike Caldwell's bill, however, SB 139 does not offer an opt out.
Caldwell addressed potential safety concerns from parents and students regarding a cellphone ban amid an emergency or a schoolwide lockdown. He said research shows that it's safer for kids if they can't access their phones in an emergency to avoid distraction from instruction by their teacher.
"We want them to have focus on the adult in the room who's delivering clear instruction on what they need to do," Caldwell said.
HB 1276 moves to the Senate for further legislative action.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma House passes cellphone ban in schools