Ban on cell phone use in schools.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Landon Brown and 3 co-sponsors

Requires school boards to adopt policies restricting student use of cell phones and smart watches during instructional time, with exceptions; deadline Sept 1, 2025.

S COW:Failed 7-21-3-0-0

Summary — SF 21: Ban (Restriction) on cell phone use in schools

Bill number: SF 21 (later renumbered SF 609 in committee actions)
Introduced: January 14, 2025 (Bill number assigned December 5, 2024)
Primary sponsors: Senator Schuler and Representative L. Brown (documents also list Alons as a primary sponsor and Clouston, Larson JT as cosponsors)
Status (key actions): Referred to Senate Education (S04); S04 — Recommend Amend & Do Pass 4–1; amendment adopted; Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) — Failed 7–21–3 (Jan 22, 2025). A committee report later renumbered the measure as SF 609 (Mar 19, 2025).
Fiscal note: No fiscal or personnel impact reported.

Purpose
- Require local school boards to adopt policies that restrict student use of cellular telephones and smart watches during instructional time, with specified exceptions and a statutory definition of “smart watch.”

Key provisions
- Statutory change: W.S. 21-3-110(a) would be amended by adding a new paragraph requiring each board of trustees to adopt policies that (as amended) restrict — rather than categorically prohibit — student use of cellular telephones and smart watches during instructional time.
- Definition: “Smart watch” defined as a wearable timekeeping device capable of acting in place of or as an extension of a cellular telephone. The definition excludes devices that only provide health information or location tracking.
- Enumerated exceptions where use is allowed:
- Emergency situations or response to a perceived threat of danger.
- When a school employee authorizes use.
- When the device is included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a plan under Section 504.
- When a health care provider determines the device is necessary to manage a student’s health care.
- Implementation deadline (as amended): school districts must establish policies by September 1, 2025 (originally July 1, 2025; amendment changed the date).

Who is affected
- School districts and local boards of trustees (duty to adopt policy).
- Students and parents/guardians (restrictions on device use during instructional time).
- School staff (responsibility to authorize/monitor permitted uses).
- Minimal fiscal impact — fiscal note states no additional fiscal or personnel costs.

Procedural/timeline notes
- The Education Committee adopted an amendment changing “prohibit” to “restrict” and moving the compliance deadline to September 1, 2025.
- The bill failed in the Senate Committee of the Whole on Jan 22, 2025 (vote 7–21–3), though later committee paperwork indicates renumbering to SF 609 and further committee activity in March 2025. Overall enactment status is not confirmed in this record.