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Bill > HB702

MS HB702

MS HB702
Public schools; require school boards to adopt policy on bell-to-bell cell phone prohibition.

summary

Introduced
01/14/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Require Local School Boards To Develop And Public Schools Located Within The School District To Implement Age-appropriate And Developmentally-appropriate Policies Relating To Student Cell Phone Possession And Use On School Property During The Academic School Day From Bell-to-bell; To Specify The Minimum Provisions To Be Contained In Each School Cell Phone-free Education Policy Applicable To Elementary, Middle And High School Students; To Prescribe Exceptions To Possession; To Prohibit Students From Being Suspended Or Expelled As A Consequence Of Any Violation Of Such Policies; To Require School Districts To Establish Procedures For Off-site Events; To Require School Boards To Make Its Policy Publicly Available And Posted Prominently On The School District's Website; To Require School Boards, When Designing Its Cell Phone-free Education Policy, To Incorporate School-based Emergency Best Practices In Its Comprehensive School Safety Plan; To Provide For The Construction Of This Act; To Amend Sections 37-11-55 And 37-11-57, Mississippi Code Of 1972, In Conformity To The Preceding Provisions Regarding The Prohibition On Suspending Or Expelling Students For Being In Violation Of The Cell Phone Possession Policy; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill requires local school boards to create and public schools to implement age-appropriate policies for student cell phone possession and use during the academic school day, from the start to the end of classes, including lunch and passing periods, with specific rules for elementary, middle, and high school students. These policies must aim to eliminate or restrict cell phone use in classrooms during instructional time to minimize distractions and disruptions, and while allowing for some possession outside of class, it must be regulated to prevent bullying and harassment. Exceptions are made for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans who may need to use cell phones for health monitoring or as assistive technology, and importantly, students cannot be suspended or expelled solely for violating these cell phone policies, though violations that involve or lead to disruptive behavior will be handled according to existing disciplinary codes. School districts must also establish procedures for cell phone use during off-site events and make their policies publicly available online, incorporating school safety best practices, including emergency communication plans, into their cell phone policies.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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