Hunter
03/19/25
Iowa’s K-12 schools would prohibit students from having cellphones in classrooms during instructional time under a bill that passed the House Tuesday.
The bill was proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds and received broad bipartisan support, with only nine Democrats voting no.
In a release from her office, Reynolds said, “With digital distractions at an all-time high, we must ensure Iowa classrooms maintain environments where focus, learning, and productivity can truly thrive. Our students deserve the opportunity to learn free from the distraction of personal electronic devices. Already, we’ve seen positive proven results from schools who have implemented similar cell phone policies.”
A companion bill passed out of a Senate subcommittee and is eligible for debate.
Meanwhile, the Senate almost unanimously passed a bill that would prohibit the use of hand-held phones while driving. One Republican senator voted no on the bill.
The Senate has passed similar bills in the past, but it hasn’t been taken up by the House. This year, a companion bill has passed the committee level and is eligible for House debate.