Latest news with #LegislativeBill140
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's cell phone ban in schools advances
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) — One of Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's priorities advanced to the second round of debate with a vote on Monday, as a statewide cell phone ban in schools inched closer to becoming law, the Nebraska Examiner reports. The bill would ban student use of personal electronic devices, such as cellphones, on school grounds or while attending a 'school instructional function,' such as field trips. But it would leave school districts wide latitude in approving student cellphone use, including some exceptions. Iowa STEM teachers and programs honored at State Capitol Senators advanced Legislative Bill 140 Monday with bipartisan support, 44-0, with five lawmakers not voting or excused. The proposed law moved out of the Education Committee 7-0, with one member absent. Pillen said during its public hearing last month that the bill focuses on student mental health and that he should have pushed the legislation earlier in his term as governor. 'The evidence, in my view, is crystal clear: Our kids are being harmed by their constant exposure to these things,' Pillen said at the time. Several other states have pushed for similar legislation on students' cell phones with similar bipartisan support, but some experts warn that these types of restrictions could be outdated or challenging for classroom teachers and schools to enforce. State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha echoed similar concerns. 'Most schools already have these policies, which are good,' McKinney said on the floor. 'The only thing I think about is how these school districts will enforce this.' McKinney added that there might be an uptick in classroom discipline issues because kids will be kids. During the same hearing at which Pillen testified, State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha voiced caution about whether students could quickly access phones in emergencies, such as during school shootings. The bill addresses such concerns with exceptions. LB 140 would allow students to use cellphones at school in the following circumstances: If needed as part of a student's special education plan. When authorized by a school district for educational purposes during instructional time. In cases of emergency or 'perceived threat of danger.' When necessary to monitor or manage a student's health care. When otherwise determined appropriate by the school board or otherwise allowed by an appropriate school employee. Should the bill pass, all of Nebraska's 245 school districts would have to adopt device-related policies to conform to the law by the start of the 2025-26 school year. The bill doesn't apply to private schools. Enforcement and possible disciplinary action for violating the guidelines, if any, would be left up to individual school districts 'It's time to prioritize student success by eliminating unnecessary distractions,' said State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, the sponsor of LB 140. East High hosting 32nd annual 'Sing All About It!' show choir invitational In a possible hint of tension within the Legislature, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha used her time to speak during the debate as a 'shot across the bow' because the Nebraska Legislature has shown her that it's 'going to screw over the poorest people in the state for just pettiness.' 'I'm going to make this body fight like hell for the things that don't benefit low-income people,' Cavanaugh said. 'You're going to have to fight like hell for it, not this bill, even though it had some opposition, I'm not opposed to it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's cellphone ban in schools nears becoming law
Student cellphone use in schools is a hot topic in the Nebraska Legislature and elsewhere nationally. (Stock photo by Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images) LINCOLN — One of Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's priorities advanced to the third and final round of debate with a vote on Monday, as a statewide cell phone ban in schools inched closer to becoming law. The bill would ban student use of personal electronic devices, such as cellphones, on school grounds or while attending a 'school instructional function,' such as field trips. But it would leave school districts wide latitude in approving student cellphone use, including some exceptions. Senators advanced Legislative Bill 140 to final reading Monday with bipartisan support, 44-0, with five lawmakers not voting or excused. The proposed law moved out of the Education Committee 7-0, with one member absent. Pillen said during its public hearing last month that the bill focuses on student mental health and that he should have pushed the legislation earlier in his term as governor. 'The evidence, in my view, is crystal clear: Our kids are being harmed by their constant exposure to these things,' Pillen said at the time. Several other states have pushed for similar legislation on students' cell phones with similar bipartisan support, but some experts warn that these types of restrictions could be outdated or challenging for classroom teachers and schools to enforce. State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha echoed similar concerns. 'Most schools already have these policies, which are good,' McKinney said on the floor. 'The only thing I think about is how these school districts will enforce this.' McKinney added that there might be an uptick in classroom discipline issues because kids will be kids. During the same hearing at which Pillen testified, State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha voiced caution about whether students could quickly access phones in emergencies, such as during school shootings. The bill addresses such concerns with exceptions. LB 140 would allow students to use cellphones at school in the following circumstances: If needed as part of a student's special education plan. When authorized by a school district for educational purposes during instructional time. In cases of emergency or 'perceived threat of danger.' When necessary to monitor or manage a student's health care. When otherwise determined appropriate by the school board or otherwise allowed by an appropriate school employee. Students, teachers endorse bill to ban cellphones during Nebraska school days Should the bill pass, all of Nebraska's 245 school districts would have to adopt device-related policies to conform to the law by the start of the 2025-26 school year. The bill doesn't apply to private schools. Enforcement and possible disciplinary action for violating the guidelines, if any, would be left up to individual school districts. 'It's time to prioritize student success by eliminating unnecessary distractions,' said State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, the sponsor of LB 140. In a possible hint of tension within the Legislature, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha used her time to speak during the debate as a 'shot across the bow' because the Nebraska Legislature has shown her that it's 'going to screw over the poorest people in the state for just pettiness.' 'I'm going to make this body fight like hell for the things that don't benefit low-income people,' Cavanaugh said. 'You're going to have to fight like hell for it, not this bill, even though it had some opposition, I'm not opposed to it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Phone silence — with conditions — can enhance learning
The Nebraska Legislature is considering a cell phone ban bill backed by Gov. Jim Pillen. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Even though it may be late to the party, the Nebraska Legislature is making the right call by advancing a bill banning student cellphone use at school. A number of school districts already curtail students' phone time on campus. If passed, Legislative Bill 140 would require Nebraska's 245 public school districts to get on the 'ban wagon' by adopting policies that would be within the scope of the law while preserving a district's prerogative to shape its own local details. LB 140 was introduced by Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen. Aside from the mind-numbing, time-wasting game of whack-a-mole teachers play patrolling their classrooms for cellphone use, the research about screen time's effect on students' minds and academic performance is clear and emerging. One study published in the 'Journal of Experimental Psychology' also identified cellphones as negatively impacting social development among middle and high school students. In his book 'Stolen Focus,' Johann Hari cites research that indicates today's young people have far less concentration power than previous generations. And, as the title of his book suggests, their focus was 'stolen' from them through a combination of devices, algorithms and marketing. Some of these studies reported that the average college student spends at most about 65 seconds on a task before needing to refocus. Refinding your place or your thought or even your bearings after an interruption — what Hari calls the 'switch cost effect' — can be debilitating. We increase our mistakes, decrease our creativity and poke holes in our mind's ability to retain. He cites studies, which reveal that once our focus is interrupted — via classmate, text message, TikTok video, whatever — we need 23 minutes to reach the level of concentration before the interruption. While LB 140 is rightly aimed at our youngest minds, adults are neither immune nor invulnerable to cell phone disruption. Hari, whose book was highlighted in this space several years ago, said the average office worker's continuous concentration tops out at three minutes, and the average Fortune 500 CEO gets about 28 minutes of uninterrupted focus a day. The data is clear: Banning cellphones in schools has science on its side. Plus, perhaps the art of face-to-face conversation, on life support in many of modern society's precincts, may live to tell the tale. A principal, in one of the state's largest high schools, in its second year of students checking in their cellphones before the first bell and picking them up after school, told me that the strangest thing was happening, especially at lunch. Students were talking to each other. Before we give LB 140 the checkered flag though, let's tap the brakes a little. I love my cellphone with the fervor of a high school student. In my pocket I have a computer, a camera for stills or video, a jukebox, an editing studio, a small theater, a word processor, an interpersonal and professional communications hub, an encyclopedic information retrieval center, a personal valet who can order coffee, find a weather forecast and write a 500-word essay on the symbolism in 'MacBeth,' and, remarkably, answer seemingly any question my life poses. Shutting down such a universally-useful device for hours on end should come with solid rationale and certain conditions. For starters, young people have an innate and perhaps outsized sense of hypocrisy. As we develop policies that reduce phone use in school, the adults who maintain these guidelines would do well to model the same behavior. Leveling up on Candy Crush Saga while you monitor study hall would be a poor play. Let's also remember that many parents get a sense of security knowing their children have phones they can use in case of an emergency. Sadly, we live in a world of active shooters and other distempers with which schools are faced. If LB 140 becomes state law, in addition to determining when and where students can use their phones on campus, districts would do well to have an unambiguous plan that underscores student safety and defines clear lines of communication in emergencies. The bill itself contemplates exceptions for emergencies. I occasionally play 'There oughtta be a law.' Perhaps you do, too. Here's one: A cellphone conversation in a restaurant loud enough for the entire section to hear not only steals my focus, it can ruin a nice meal. And, if that law oughtta be, let's double the fine for using the speaker setting. Too much? Not the Legislature's lane? Sure. But being on the proper side of the fight for our children's focus, concentration and, in a very real sense, their futures, is just right. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School cellphone ban advances to full Nebraska Legislature, first of Pillen's 2025 priorities
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen testifies before the Legislature's Education Committee on a bill introduced at his request to ban student cellphone use during school days. Pillen holds his cellphone to emphasize his testimony. Feb. 4, 2025. (Courtesy Office of Gov. Jim Pillen) LINCOLN — The first of Gov. Jim Pillen's 2025 legislative priorities advanced Thursday to the full Nebraska Legislature: banning most student cellphones in public K-12 schools. The Legislature's Education Committee voted 7-0, with one member absent, to advance Legislative Bill 140 from State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, which was introduced at Pillen's request. As amended by the committee, the bill would ban student use of electronic communication devices, such as cellphones, on school grounds or while they are attending a 'school instructional function,' such as field trips. But it would leave school districts wide latitude of when and where they could authorize student cellphone use. Students, teachers endorse bill to ban cellphones during Nebraska school days Should the bill pass, all of Nebraska's 245 school districts would need to adopt device-related policies to conform to the law by the start of school this fall. The bill doesn't apply to private schools. Enforcement and possible disciplinary action for violating the policies, if any, would be up to individual school districts. Stakeholder participation would need to be included in drafting cellphone guidelines 'to ensure that such policies are responsive to the unique needs and desires of students, parents and educators in each community.' A survey of 218 superintendents in October and November, by the Nebraska Department of Education, indicated that 80% of responding districts had already implemented similar policies. LB 140, supported also by the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, would not prohibit such devices from being used: If needed as part of a student's special education plan. When authorized by a school district for educational purposes during instructional time. In cases of emergency or 'perceived threat of danger.' When necessary to monitor or manage a student's health care. When otherwise determined appropriate by the school board or otherwise allowed by an appropriate school employee. Some Education Committee members said they don't intend to prevent school districts from choosing to allow cellphones during lunch or passing periods, as many allow in existing policies. Pillen has said his goal is to prohibit cellphones during school hours 'from bell to bell.' He's also urged parents and grandparents to limit student cellphone use at night before bed. Sanders said she was excited that her bill advanced. State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, committee chair, told the Nebraska Examiner that while cellphones can be positive, children and adults can become almost addicted to or spend too much time on their devices. 'I think most parents will celebrate the fact that the screen time for their students in school, at least, will be limited,' Murman said. Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, said in a statement to the Examiner that the governor knows senators will give the issues in the bill 'their utmost attention.' 'This is a bipartisan issue and a unified Education Committee proves that,' Strimple said in a statement. 'Guardrails are necessary to ensure that kids are free from distractions while attending school, and it's the responsibility of adults to make sure the harmful effects of cellphone use are minimized to the greatest degree possible,' the statement continued. 'Additionally, this legislation allows for Nebraska's talented teachers to get back to teaching and not policing cellphone use in the classroom.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Students, teachers endorse bill to ban cellphones during Nebraska school days
Marley Helvey, center, and her mother, Sarah Helvery, middle right, join with State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Dan Lonowski of Hastings, from left. Marley Helvey, a 15-year-old freshman at Omaha's Westside High School, was among supporters of a bill from Sanders and Gov. Jim Pillen to ban cellphones during the school day. Feb. 4, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Students, teachers and Nebraska state officials largely testified Tuesday in favor of a proposal that would prohibit student use of cellphones during school, beginning this fall. Legislative Bill 140, from State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, would require school districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using electronic communication devices while on school property or while attending a 'school function.' The proposal, in large part drafted by the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, would put possible enforcement or discipline up to local districts, with multiple exceptions: Students whose device use is required under their individualized education plan or Section 504 plan for special education. Classroom time when authorized by a teacher for educational purposes. In the case of an emergency or perceived threat of danger. When necessary to monitor or manage a student's health. When determined appropriate by the school board or otherwise allowed by an appropriate school employee. School boards would need to adopt applicable policies by the start of the school year this fall. Sanders, a member of the Education Committee considering the bill, said lawmakers must do everything they can to ensure success in the classroom. Part of that, she said, is eliminating 'unnecessary distractions.' 'By limiting electronic communication devices in the classroom, we can foster an environment that promotes focus and academic achievement,' Sanders testified. 'We must prioritize the well-being and intellectual growth of our students.' Marley Helvey, a 15-year-old freshman at Westside High School in Omaha, said her district has a 'bell to bell, no cell' policy, which allows flexibility during the school day, such as in passing periods, for technology that Marley noted has become a 'constant reality of our life.' 'It's how we do everything, and it's part of our culture,' Marley said. Marley said the policy has helped her get work done faster, leading to more free time at home. She pointed to a study from Common Sense Media where teen and tween screen time has skyrocketed, up to 7 hours and 22 minutes each day for teenagers. A 2023 survey from the same group indicated that 97% of 11- to 17-year-old students reported using their phones in some capacity during school hours and handling their phones around 13 times during the average school day. Dozens of states have introduced legislation to limit or outlaw cellphone use in schools, and as of October, nine states had enacted measures in 2023 or 2024. State education agencies or state boards of education similarly enacted restrictions in that period. Brian Maher, state education commissioner, presented the results of a survey of superintendents in 218 school districts between October and November, where more than 80% of respondents said they already had a policy related to cellphone use. Nebraska has 245 school districts. Of current policies, more than half were enacted in the past three years because of mental health, academic performance, teacher input and student safety. About 26% of responding districts prohibited phones during school hours and 56% limited use, allowing it at times such as during lunch or passing periods. No policies allowed free use of phones. Maher said the time is right to take a stance on cellphone use in schools. 'We stand ready to assist with the implementation in any way that you might see fit,' Maher testified. Former State Sen. Colby Coash, a registered lobbyist for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, was one of two testifiers against LB 140. Coash said school board members are aligned and understand the connection between cellphone usage and school performance, but he noted a few concerns, such as how to enforce the phone prohibition at general school functions. State Sens. Dan Lonowski of Hastings, a retired teacher, and Jana Hughes of Seward, a substitute teacher, similarly asked how the legislation would apply to outside events such as wrestling matches or basketball games, for example. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said 'school function' was not intended to apply to extracurricular activities outside the regular school day. Instead, part of the goal was to cover field trips. Hilgers said his office is open to technical amendments and will offer some of its own. Marley asked that lawmakers remove extracurricular activities from the bill and prohibit suspensions or permanent marks on a student's record just for a cellphone violation. 'We are all addicted to our phones, and research can show this, so we need some patience and grace,' Marley said. Pillen has regularly said his stance is no cellphones during the school day, from morning to afternoon. Coash said if that's the goal, lawmakers should clarify the bill. 'If that's the way it is, I don't know if we're any further ahead with the bill from where the current state of affairs is,' Coash said. 'But that's a policy decision for the Legislature.' Another desired change from Hilgers, Coash and Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association representing public school teachers, was to remove the individual approach for teachers and create a more uniform approach statewide. Coash said some school districts have tried the individual teacher-led approach and quickly abandoned it. Royers said that a recent statewide survey of thousands of teachers found that for 80% of respondents, student behavior was indicated as a top barrier to a teacher's ability to do their job. However, it wasn't fear of physical violence, Royers said, but the need to address cellphones. Michael Geist of Lincoln, a teacher of 24 years, said he has prohibited cellphones in class for two decades. It got him a reputation compared to other teachers who had different policies, he said, but his approach led to decreased failures and more engagement. Royers and Geist said that consistency is key, and Royers said that success requires community buy-in. Royers praised the proposed legislation for protecting local control and prioritizing stakeholder feedback. Geist said the legislation 'levels the playing field' and could improve behaviors. 'Taxpayers, including parents, expect students to be learning, not to be immersed in electronic communication with peers,' Geist said. Tyler Mosher, a senior at Elkhorn South High School, said she got a phone when she was around 9 or 10 years old, largely for her safety, she said, as the daughter of a police officer. Tyler said she enjoys her share of social media, such as scrolling through Instagram Reels, or texting and calling friends, and she uses her phone as a tool. She said the concern is when that 'tool' becomes a 'weapon.' This includes negative self-image, online or in-person bullying, decreased social interaction and diminished attention spans, Tyler said. 'If we overuse something or use something improperly, anything can come from a tool to become a weapon,' Tyler said. 'And that's what we're seeing today. That's what we're seeing across Nebraska, nationwide and, unfortunately, I've seen it in my school with my friends.' Tyler pointed to her 13-year-old cousin who just got a phone for her birthday. Tyler said she's worried that young students like her cousin won't be able to put their devices down in the future. Hilgers and Pillen have said the focus is mental health. Pillen testified that he should have pushed for the bill two years ago, when he became governor, because if adults know how much technology is impacting them, 'just think how it touches our kids.' 'The evidence, in my view, is crystal clear: Our kids are being harmed by their constant exposure to these things,' Pillen said. 'If we can't have a presence with our kids, how on earth can you teach?' he continued. Hilgers, a former state senator, said the legislation would be a win for all involved, including parents, children, teachers and parents. He said he hasn't let his oldest child, at 13 years old, have a phone, and he's OK being the 'bad guy.' 'If I can be the bad guy for all the kids in the State of Nebraska, I'm happy to do that,' Hilgers testified. Committee members similarly spoke in favor of the legislation, such as State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, a pragmatic progressive who has often clashed with Pillen or Hilgers. She said she looks forward to working with both on the legislation. 'It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican or an independent,' Conrad told Pillen. 'We're all struggling to find the right balance for technology in our lives, and particularly as parents when it impacts our kids.' State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said she can tell schools are getting more digital, with fewer worksheets or textbooks coming home for her child. Hunt voiced some caution about whether students could quickly access phones in emergencies, such as during school shootings. Hilgers said he is open to working on Hunt to make sure those emergencies are addressed. Conrad described the bill as the 'exact kind of problem-solving' that the state should be focused on, telling Hilgers it could help students 'take a deep breath' and be more immersed in learning. Pillen told Conrad: 'We are open to amending language to ensure that we can have bipartisan support.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
