The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation to make permanent a policy restricting student cellphone use during the school day.
In a 41-5 vote, lawmakers passed House Bill 1276, which extends the requirement that public school districts implement “bell to bell” policies prohibiting students from having cellphones during school hours.
Oklahoma Senator Ally Seifried said the policy has already shown results since it was first introduced.
“When I first introduced legislation to limit cellphones in schools three years ago, I never could have imagined this small change would have such a big impact across Oklahoma,” Seifried said. “Students are reinvested in their studies and more engaged in the classroom. They’re also checking out more library books and socializing like normal kids again.”
Seifried said feedback from parents, students and educators across the state has been overwhelmingly positive, with many supporting making the policy permanent.
Oklahoma is among more than three dozen states that restrict or prohibit student cellphone use during the school day, with most requiring “bell to bell” enforcement.
Oklahoma Representative Chad Caldwell, the House author of the bill, said the measure helps reduce distractions in the classroom.
“The results speak for themselves, and this legislation ensures we protect what we know is already working,” Caldwell said. “By keeping distractions out of the classroom, we’re giving students the opportunity to focus, learn and fully engage in their education every single day.”
House Bill 1276 now returns to the House for final consideration before it can be sent to the governor’s desk.
