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SB 23

EXCEPTIONS TO STUDENT USE OF PHONES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Crystal Brantley and 1 co-sponsor

SB 23 carves out specified exceptions to New Mexico's student phone use restrictions, recently passing the Senate and now facing House Education Committee review.

action postponed indefinitely
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Bill Summary · SB 23

Legislative bill overview

SB 23 establishes exceptions to New Mexico's student phone restrictions, allowing cell phone use in schools under specific circumstances. The bill has passed the Senate with amendments and is currently before the House Education Committee. The amendments and floor substitute suggest ongoing negotiations about which exceptions should be permitted.

Why is this important

Student phone policies directly affect classroom learning environments, student safety during emergencies, and school discipline. The carve-outs created by this bill could significantly impact how broadly New Mexico's phone restrictions are enforced and which students or situations qualify for exemptions.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining "exceptions" scope: Without seeing the specific language, the breadth of exceptions remains unclear—whether they cover health needs, emergencies, educational use, or other categories, and how restrictively they're defined
  • Enforcement challenges: Schools must determine who qualifies for exceptions and monitor compliance, creating administrative burden and potential inconsistency across districts
  • Academic impact debate: Education advocates may disagree on whether exceptions undermine the original intent of reducing classroom phone distractions versus legitimate needs for emergency access or medical monitoring

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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