Maury County lawmaker files bill to limit cellphone usage in classrooms

ASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Middle Tennessee lawmaker has filed legislation that would limit the use of cellphones in Tennessee classrooms.

State Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) filed House Bill 13, which would require school boards to adopt policies that prohibit students from using “wireless communication devices” during instructional time with certain exceptions.

The law is designed to “improve attentiveness in classrooms,” according to a press release from the lawmaker.

“Fostering an environment of student engagement and focus during instructional periods is essential to a quality education,” Cepicky said. “Cellphone usage in the classroom presents an unnecessary distraction for students and is unfair to the hard-working teachers who are passionate about educating the next generation. This legislation will limit interruptions and empower Tennessee’s children to concentrate on learning, which can improve social skills, mental health and academic performance.”

House Bill 13 would ensure students have access to their cellphones if they are being used for educational purposes and approved by a teacher, in the event of an emergency or to manage a student’s health, and to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.

The legislation would allow districts to authorize teachers to withhold devices from students who don’t comply with usage policies.

In the press release, the lawmaker cited a Pew Research Center study showing over 70% of American high school teachers say distractions caused by cellphones in classrooms is a “major problem.” Additional studies, including one from Scientific American, have concluded enacting restrictions on cellphone usage during instructional periods increases academic performance, specifically for low-achieving students, according to the lawmaker.

The same Pew Research Center study also cautioned that most high school teachers felt cellphone ban policies were difficult to enforce, though middle and elementary school teachers felt they were easy to enforce.

Several states have enacted similar legislation through their governing bodies, including California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, according to KFF.

The next legislative session for the Tennessee General Assembly is set to convene on Jan. 14, 2025