House committee advances bill requiring Oklahoma school cellphone bans
A poster reads, "bell to bell, no cell" at the Jenks Public Schools Math and Science Center on Nov. 13. The school district prohibits student cellphone use during class periods. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY — A major priority for Oklahoma lawmakers and the governor was the first item on the House Common Education Committee's agenda Wednesday.
In its first meeting of 2025, the committee voted 11-2 to pass House Bill 1276 with bipartisan support. The bill, from Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, would require public schools to ban students from using cellphones and smart watches while on campus. It would take effect July 1 and start applying in the 2025-26 school year.
It advances to the Education Oversight Committee, which must pass the legislation before it could be heard on the House floor.
Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders have said one of their top goals this year is curbing student cellphone use to reduce distractions in the classroom.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, voted in favor of the bill at the committee meeting.
'It's time our classrooms return to being places of learning, not distractions,' Hilbert said in a statement afterward. 'House Bill 1276 gives Oklahoma's schools the flexibility to set policies that fit their needs while reinforcing a simple goal — to let kids be kids and let teachers teach.'
Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, and Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, were the only committee members to vote against the bill.
Banning noted in his line of questions to Caldwell that schools already can implement a cellphone ban voluntarily. The number of districts enacting similar policies has increased in recent years as the popularity of these prohibitions grows nationwide.
Caldwell said the bill would prompt all districts to develop their own cellphone-free policy.
'Candidly, I wish more of our schools would have already done that, but we're going to help our schools do the right thing to go phone free,' he said during the committee meeting.
The state Senate will consider similar legislation in Senate Bill 139 from Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
House GOP finalizes tweaks to keep megabill on track in Senate
House Republicans have finalized changes to the party-line tax and spending package the House passed last month, to keep the bill in compliance with Senate rules. An early copy of the amendment House Republicans plan to adopt this week, first obtained by POLITICO, would make changes to biofuel policy and other provisions. By nixing items the Senate parliamentarian has flagged, the bill will retain its 'privilege' and can pass the Senate without having to overcome the filibuster. House GOP leaders plan to approve the tweaks in the Rules Committee later Tuesday and adopt them on the floor on Wednesday, according to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Brevard County election 2025 results for Florida Senate District 19, House District 32
Who are the winners and losers in the June 10, 2025, Brevard County special election? Voters in Brevard County cast ballots with their picks in the Florida Senate District 19 and Florida House District 32 races. The winners of the April 1 Republican primary election faced Democratic candidates in Tuesday's special general election. The Florida Senate District 19 election will fill the seat left vacant by Randy Fine, who resigned to run for Congress representing the Daytona Beach area. Primary winner Republican Debbie Mayfield faced Democrat Vance Ahrens. Florida's House District 32 seat was vacated by Debbie Mayfield, who is seeking to return to the Florida Senate after being term-limited out and winning this seat in November. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that she was eligible to once again seek her former Senate seat in the special election. Republican Brian Hodgers won the primary and faced Democrat Juan Hinojosa in the special general election. ➤ Dig Deeper: Ultimate voter guide to Brevard County June 10, 2025, special general elections Follow along below for the latest election results, continually updated until all ballots are counted. Polls close at 7 p.m. local time. Any voters waiting in line at 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to cast a ballot. Use the Brevard County voter information look-up to check your voter registration and party status. To find your Brevard County polling place, check the voter precinct look-up or your voter information card. To see a sample ballot for your Brevard County precinct, check the county elections office website. Support local journalism by subscribing to Florida Today. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County election results: Florida D19, House D32
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Mike Johnson Says 'Clear Distinction' Between Jan. 6 and Los Angeles Riots
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday that there's a "clear distinction" between the January 6, 2021, siege on the U.S. Capitol and the widespread demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles. What To Know CNN's Manu Raju asked Johnson whether he thinks it's "hypocritical" for President Donald Trump to condemn the anti-ICE protesters in L.A. for clashing with law enforcement when Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of everyone charged in the deadly Capitol riot, many of whom were convicted of beating or impeding law enforcement. "Look, no, I think there's a clear distinction between those two," Johnson said. "We've seen what's happened in L.A. in the early '90s and other times, when these things get out of control ... you have to stay on top of that and you cannot let it get out of control." Johnson was referring to the deadly 1992 riots that broke out in L.A. after a jury acquitted four police officers accused of brutally beating Black motorist Rodney King after a high-speed chase. "But what's the difference between the violent protesters on January 6 [and anti-ICE demonstrators]?" Raju pressed the House speaker. "Everybody wants me to relitigate January 6, I'm not going to do that," Johnson said. "There's a very clear distinction between the two. People who broke the law and destroyed property [on January 6] were met with the proper consequences on that." He added that the government has to be "consistent" on that issue in L.A., before turning to walk away. The protests in Los Angeles erupted after ICE raided a number of downtown neighborhoods with high immigrant populations and labor-intensive industries. More than 50 people have been arrested as a result of the raids and five Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers have been injured, officials said. Senator Majority Leader John Thune was also asked about Trump's "inconsistency" on the L.A. demonstrations and January 6 siege. "Do you see any inconsistency when the president criticizes or condemns the violent Los Angeles protesters but then pardons the violent January 6 protesters?" a reporter asked the South Dakota Republican. Thune dodged the question, saying, "I think the issue that's in front of us right now is the chaos in L.A." "And clearly the local officials there, for whatever reason, didn't seem up to the task of getting the job done there," he added. California Governor Gavin Newsom, local officials and the LAPD have all rebuffed that claim, saying they had the protests under control until Trump deployed the National Guard and mobilized the Marines to crack down on the demonstrations, which led to more unrest. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
