The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed its first bill of the 60th legislative session, which would prohibit cell phone use by Oklahoma students during the school day. House Bill 1276, authored by Chad Caldwell, aims to remove distractions in the classroom and improve academic outcomes. The bill would require school boards to ban cell phone use on campus, including personal electronic devices like smartwatches. However, school districts would have the flexibility to determine how to implement the policy. The bill also includes provisions for emergency use, such as for medical issues. With overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill passed the House floor with a vote of 82-9 and will now move to the Senate for further consideration. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert expressed pride in prioritizing this issue and moving quickly to make it happen. The goal is to create a phone-free environment at school while still allowing for local control and ensuring that students can focus on learning. The bill aims to strike a balance between protecting students and teachers while also recognizing the importance of technology in today’s society. If passed by the Senate, the bill would go into effect before the start of the next school year.
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