Overview
- Senators approved House Bill 1009 by a 51-0 vote, sending it to the governor after the House passed it 145-20 in February.
- The bill bans student use of cellphones, tablets, smartwatches, and headphones during the school day in high schools.
- Students with an IEP, Section 504 plan, or a medical plan that requires device use would be permitted access as needed, and similar restrictions already apply in elementary and middle schools.
- Teachers report improved focus and classroom behavior, with one Marietta teacher citing nearly 20-point gains in average state test scores, and State School Superintendent Richard Woods backed the measure.
- Some parents worry about reaching children during emergencies, and House Speaker Jon Burns said unsupervised messaging can complicate safety protocols; nationwide, 35 states and Washington, D.C., have adopted school phone restrictions.