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Governor's bills on school cellphone use, math teaching pass Iowa House • Iowa Capital Dispatch [1]
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Date: 2025-03-18
The Iowa House passed Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal Tuesday to set a statewide restriction on cellphone use in school classrooms.
The measure, House File 782, was highlighted as one of the governor’s priorities heading into the 2025 legislative session. The bill would require school boards to adopt a policy beginning in the 2025-2026 school year banning the use of personal electronic devices during instruction time. Boards would have the option of adding further restrictions during the school day. School districts would be required to put in place specific disciplinary measures for students who use cellphones during class and tests.
There are some exceptions to the minimum ban in cases where students have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan that requires accommodations involving the use of cellphones or another electronic device. Additionally, parents and guardians could petition the school district to allow their child to keep their cellphone with them during class if they establish a “legitimate reason” related to the student’s mental or physical health necessitating they have their cellphone accessible during class.
Several Iowa schools already have policies in place to restrict cellphone use during the school day, including Ankeny, Dallas Center-Grimes, Des Moines and Ottumwa.
Rep. Jeff Shipley, the bill’s floor manager, thanked leaders at school districts including Ottumwa and Des Moines that have already enacted cellphone policies for sharing stories with lawmakers and the public about the success they’ve seen in implementing these measures. The Birmingham Republican also thanked Reynolds for bringing the bill forward as a way of “ensuring our state makes these much-needed policy changes.”
“I appreciate the positive discussion on this bill, and the consensus we’ve reached that this is a good direction for the state of Iowa,” Shipley said. “It is my hope that the discussion — the acknowledgement — that the proliferation and dependence on electronic and digital devices can and does often come with negative impacts on both adults and children … continues into the future.”
The measure received bipartisan support in both chambers through the committee process, though some Democrats have expressed concerns about the provision that would potentially give school districts the ability to veto a parent’s request for their child to have a personal electronic device on hand if their reasoning is not deemed “legitimate.”
Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, introduced an amendment to remove this process and allow exemptions to the cellphone ban on the basis of a student’s individual health plan, in the same way that students with 504 or IEP plans are given exemptions. The amendment failed in a 31-65 vote, with Shipley saying he appreciated “the objective of the amendment” but believed the concern was addressed by the language allowing parents and guardians to petition the school district for an exemption.
Though Matson’s amendment failed, she still spoke in support of the bill.
“I do think that it is reasonable for people to have different views on the state’s role on this issue,” Matson said. “Many school districts, including my own, have already instituted a successful policy, and many more are likely to follow as a matter of course. That being said, I think we all know of the critical distractions caused by cellphones and other electronic devices. … I believe that the evidence has shown that restrictions are making a difference, and for that reason, I will be voting yes.”
The House passed the measure 88-9. The companion version of the bill, Senate File 370, is available for floor debate in the Senate.
Reynolds released a statement Tuesday thanking House lawmakers for passing the bill.
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