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Bill

HB 673

Public Schools; require school boards to adopt policy on bell-to-bell cell phone prohibition.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Creekmore

Mississippi bill requiring school districts to adopt cell phone prohibition policies during instructional hours died in committee without advancing to full vote.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 673

Legislative bill overview

HB 673 would have required Mississippi school boards to adopt policies prohibiting students from using cell phones during instructional time ("bell-to-bell"). The bill mandates that each district establish written rules restricting phone use from the start to the end of the school day, though it allows boards discretion in enforcement mechanisms and exceptions.

Why is this important

Cell phone use in classrooms is increasingly cited as a distraction affecting academic performance and classroom management. This bill addresses a widespread concern among educators about student focus and engagement, while also touching on student privacy and administrative control—issues that resonate with parents, teachers, and policymakers across different political perspectives.

Potential points of contention

  • Parental communication and safety concerns: Parents may want access to reach children during emergencies; some argue complete restrictions limit family contact during the school day
  • Enforcement variability: Requiring policies without mandating specific enforcement mechanisms could create inconsistent application across districts and socioeconomic disparities in implementation
  • Student autonomy and trust issues: Critics argue blanket restrictions infantilize high school students and that educational settings should teach responsibility rather than impose prohibitions; others see this as appropriate boundary-setting
  • Existing authority questions: School boards already have general authority to set classroom policies, raising questions about whether legislative mandate was necessary

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

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