Latest news with #HB1276
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma House, Senate consider each other's bills banning cellphones in schools
A poster reads, "bell to bell, no cell" at the Jenks Public Schools Math and Science Center, where students are prohibited from using cellphones during class time. Oklahoma lawmakers are considering multiple bills that would restrict student cellphone use during the school day. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — A Senate committee has approved a House bill calling for cellphone bans in public schools, setting the stage for final negotiations on a major policy priority for Oklahoma lawmakers. The Senate Education Committee advanced House Bill 1276 with a 7-4 vote on Tuesday. Similar legislation from the Senate is on the agenda for the House Common Education Committee's meeting Wednesday. HB 1276 would require every district in the state to develop a policy restricting student use of cellphones and personal electronic devices for the entire school day, starting next school year. The bill leaves the door open for local school boards to opt out and continue permitting student cellphone use in their districts. Similar legislation that originated in the Senate, SB 139, would mandate a cellphone ban in all public schools for a year with no chance for districts to opt out until after the 2025-26 academic year. Districts would have the choice after the first year whether to keep the prohibition in place. Each version would allow students to use their cellphones for medically necessary reasons or in emergency cases. Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, and Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, are the authors of both bills. If both bills pass the committee stage, Seifried said House and Senate lawmakers will discuss which version has the most support from the full Legislature. Allowing districts the chance to opt out of the cellphone ban has been a priority of the House, Seifried said. The message she heard most often from fellow senators is 'let's get it done,' she said. 'I think we'll eventually get together and decide which version will pass and which can gain the most consensus,' Seifried said after the committee vote. 'We wanted to get both through committee. We really are working together on this quite closely, and so that'll be for us to decide in the coming weeks.' House lawmakers passed HB 1276 with overwhelming support from both parties. The Senate passed SB 139 along party lines. The policy of restricting cellphones in schools has enjoyed vocal support from Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders. If one of the measures becomes law, Oklahoma would join nine other states, including California and Arkansas, that have enacted a ban on cellphones in schools. Oklahoma lawmakers have been looking into the issue since before the 2025 session began. Both chambers hosted fall interim studies examining the detriments of digital media on children and the benefits of cellphone bans in Oklahoma schools that already have these restrictions in place. Caldwell said he and Seifried agree educators, parents and students would recognize the positive impact once a statewide ban is in place. He decided to include a district opt-out provision in HB 1276, he said, after having conversations with House leadership and fellow representatives. Caldwell said he hopes both the House and Senate versions advance past the committee stage for consideration in final negotiations. 'This truly has a chance to make transformative change in our schools, and that's not something we get a chance to do every day,' Caldwell said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Bell to Bell, No Cell' Legislation passes first hurdle
OKLAHOMA CITY — Local legislatures participated in the House's overwhelmingly passage of its first bill prohibiting cell phone use on school campuses. Representatives discuss restricting cell phones in Missouri schools If approved, it will go into effect July 1. Chairman of the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chad Caldwell authored House Bill 1276 to eliminate distractions in the classroom and improve student academic outcomes. The bill is the first bill of the 60th legislative session Thursday. If passed, the bill would prohibit students from using cell phones during the school day. It would also include personal electronic devices, including smartwatches. Under HB1276, school boards could allow student cell phone use, but the policy must be approved annually. Banning cellphones in schools gains popularity in red and blue states The legislation requires that any policy prohibiting cell phone use also include a provision for emergency use, including items used for medical issues. The bill also leaves it up to the local district to implement the cell phone ban. 'The research is clear – cell phone use among young students is not only bad for their mental health, but also hurts academic outcomes,' said Caldwell. 'To pass meaningful legislation this early in the session with overwhelming bipartisan support is a testament to how important this issue is. Our kids and teachers deserve a phone-free environment at school, and we are well on our way to making that a reality.' Schools clash with parents over bans on student cellphones The bill passed the House floor with a vote of 82-9 and will now move to the Senate for further consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School cellphone ban passes Oklahoma House as lawmakers debate library book bans, policies
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. More: Bill to raise pay for starting teachers clears first hurdles in Oklahoma Legislature "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. More: Oklahoma City schools implements prevention system to address increasing dropout rates 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
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School cellphone ban passes committees, up for consideration by full Oklahoma House
A bill that would prohibit public school students in Oklahoma from using their cellphones on campus could soon be heard on the House floor after it passed two committees. Legislators unanimously voted in favor of House Bill 1276 during a two minute long House Education Oversight committee meeting Monday. Authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, the bill would require public schools to ban students from using cellphones and smart watches while on campus. If passed, HB 1276 would take effect July 1 and start applying in the 2025-26 school year. "I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle," Caldwell told The Oklahoman. "This is clearly an issue that affects all Oklahoma kids, so I'm happy that we're able to come together and take the next step and get this policy across the finish line." More: DOGE, tax cuts and education: Here's what happened on the first day of the legislative session Banning cell phone usage in schools has been a priority for the governor and the House speaker, Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who voted in favor of the bill Monday. 'Let's get our teachers and students a phone-free classroom environment implemented with local control how the district sees fit, so the focus could be on learning and just being here,' Hilbert said in January after he was officially elected as House speaker. HB 1276 passed the House Common Education Committee last week with Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, and Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, voting against it. Now that it's passed two committees, Caldwell said he hopes the bill can help kids learn better by limiting distractions, lessening behavioral issues and assisting teachers in maintaining focus from their students. "It's a good step in just helping kids be kids again," Caldwell said. "Getting them off their phones and interacting with their peers and having fun in the lunch room. ... That's what I'm excited about." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma cellphone ban in schools heads to House for consideration
