MONTGOMERY — Despite some pushback, the House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday banning K-12 students from having cell phones and other wireless communication devices in the classroom.
House Bill 166 (HB166), sponsored by State Rep. Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena), addresses students' use of cell phones and other wireless devices during the day's instructional period.
Gov. Kay Ivey backed the legislation in her State of the State address earlier this month.
Under existing law, a local board of education may permit a student to carry or use a cell phone or other electronic communication device while on school property. HB166 would repeal that law and place new restrictions and requirements on students using "wireless communications devices."
Should the bill pass, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, no student may possess a wireless communication device in any public elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds during the instructional day. The bill allows for devices to remain on school grounds so long as they are turned off and stored in a locker, backpack, car or similar storage location.
The bill also requires local boards of education to adopt policies governing cell phone use, including consequences for violations.
The policy will also require education boards to adopt policies limiting internet access by students on school-provided devices.
Some House Democrats opposed the bill from the floor, expressing safety concerns about students not being permitted access to cell phones in cases of emergency. While Republicans made up most of the "nay" votes against the bill, none voiced opposition at the podium.
The bill has several exceptions for students in cases of medical or educational necessity or cases of emergency.
State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) asked about the bill's phone storage provisions and how students could access them in an emergency.
"I do think that those devices need to be somewhere where those children can call parents or even call 911 and say, 'someone is shooting in our school' or whatever because that has happened," Drummond said.
Hulsey responded that the bill only requires communication devices to be turned off and stored off the student's body. A local school board would determine the exact location. She also pointed out that the National Association of School Resource Officers discourages student cell phone use, which can cause confusion and gridlock in emergencies.
Not all Democrats opposed the bill, with several showing support for removing classroom distractions.
"Taking the phones away, I think it's something that we're going to have to do and do it in a manner that people understand," said State Rep. Pebblin Warren (D-Tuskegee). "Because, I think, the biggest revolt we're probably going to get from this is going to be from parents. It's just unreal how parents text their kids during the class day just to talk to them. It should get back to the old-fashioned way of, when you want your child, all you have to do is call the principal's office."
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) praised the bill, saying his opinion on it has developed more positively as it was amended through the legislative process, specifically by removing penalties for educators who violate the law.
After nearly an hour of debate, the body voted in favor of the bill 74-15, with eight abstentions. It will now go to the Senate for deliberation.
"At the end of the day, we have two responsibilities for our kids and schools: one of those things is educating them, and the other one is providing for their well-being," Hulsey said after the bill passed. "And I think that this is going to do both. It's going to have them focused on what's going on in that classroom, working on developing these critical social skills, and then continuing to learn how to have great debate in their classrooms just like they did on the floor today. But all in all, I think this is going to be a game changer, and I'm really excited to see how this plays out in our kids' lives and in our classrooms."
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