House Passes Student Cell Phone Ban on Divided 75-48 Vote

The Kansas House passed a substitute bill for SB 281 on Tuesday that would prohibit students from using personal electronic communication devices during school hours, but the 75-48 vote revealed significant disagreement over the state's role in setting classroom technology policies.

The vote split fell well short of the near-unanimous margins seen on other bills that cleared the chamber Tuesday, suggesting the measure cut across typical party lines. The bill, which originated in the Senate and was reworked by the House, reflects a growing national movement among state legislatures to address concerns about smartphone distraction and student mental health. Supporters have argued the devices undermine learning, while opponents have raised concerns about parental communication during emergencies and local control of school policies.

The measure now returns to the Senate for consideration of the House's substitute language, where it could face concurrence or be sent to a conference committee to iron out differences between the two chambers' versions.