The bill passed in a 41-18 vote on Monday and moves to the Arizona Senate.
PHOENIX — The Arizona House of Representatives has passed legislation that would instruct the state’s school districts to enforce policies that limit the use of cell phones during the school day.
House Bill 2484 passed through the House in a 41-18 vote on Monday with support from both Republicans and Democrats. The bill now advances over to the Arizona Senate.
The bill’s language states every public and charter school board shall prescribe policies that restrict student access to social media sites and limit the use of cell phones on campus.
“Teachers shouldn’t have to compete with TikTok, and parents shouldn’t have to wonder if their kids are learning or just scrolling,” said state Rep. Beverly Pingerelli, R-District 28, who is sponsoring the bill.
The legislation would still allow for utilizing phones and social media platforms for “educational purposes” or in emergency situations.
Some school districts in Arizona have already begun to restrict the use of phones during school hours. Last summer, the Bullhead City School District announced it would require students to lock up their phones in a cabinet while on campus.
A teacher in Tucson recently decided to leave his job due to the prevalent phone use among his students.
Some Arizona districts have even begun to take legal action against social media companies, claiming the tech platforms have caused harm to the mental health of students.
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