Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2186

Introduced
1/31/25  

Caption

Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of privately owned electronic communication devices during school hours and to prohibit students from using school district computers or devices to access social media platforms.

Impact

The bill's provisions would have a significant impact on state education laws by enforcing a consistent approach to the regulation of electronic device usage in schools. By mandating that all school districts enact similar policies, the bill seeks to reduce distractions and enhance the educational environment. Schools will need to navigate the balance between fostering responsible device use while ensuring that educational integrity is maintained. The potential enforcement of disciplinary actions against students violating these policies is noteworthy and indicates a stricter approach towards managing student behavior in relation to technology.

Summary

House Bill 2186 aims to regulate the use of privately owned electronic communication devices within school districts across Kansas. The bill mandates that each school district's board of education adopt strict policies prohibiting students from using personal electronic devices for communication during school hours, including passing periods and classes. It also allows limited exceptions for device use, such as for students with individualized education programs or for educational purposes as approved by teachers or administrators. These provisions reflect a growing concern about the distractions posed by personal devices in educational settings.

Contention

There may be notable points of contention surrounding this legislation regarding the balance between regulation and students' rights to access technology. Critics might argue that the prohibition could hinder students' ability to use their devices as learning tools or in scenarios where communication is vital. Furthermore, the implementation of strict disciplinary measures could lead to debates about fairness and the potential challenges in enforcement. Proponents, however, would likely argue that the focus is on improving the learning conditions and minimizing disruptions caused by unmanaged technology use.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SR1703

Recognizing November 14, 2024, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.