Screen time prohibited for children in preschool and kindergarten.
Summary
HF3776 would amend Minnesota law governing publicly funded preschool and kindergarten programs to prohibit young children from using individual-use screens—such as tablets, smartphones, or other digital media—unless a teacher or other students are actively engaged with the child. The bill is aimed at limiting screen time in early childhood educational settings and applies only while the child is at a school site.
The measure includes exceptions for children who have an individualized family service plan, an individualized education program, or a Section 504 plan in effect. It would take effect on July 1, 2026, and would change the existing statute from a limit on screen time to a broader prohibition on unsupervised individual screen use in these programs.
Impact
The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes section 124D.166, tightening restrictions on digital device use in publicly funded preschool and kindergarten classrooms. It would affect school districts, early childhood education providers, teachers, and students in those programs by limiting when and how tablets, smartphones, and similar devices may be used. The bill preserves accommodations for students with disability-related plans, so schools would still need to provide screen access when required by an IFSP, IEP, or 504 plan.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available record suggests the bill is straightforward and policy-focused rather than highly contentious. The authorship by multiple legislators indicates some level of support for the concept of reducing screen exposure for very young children. No opposition, amendments, or recorded vote history is provided in the materials, so there is no documented public debate to assess broader sentiment.
Contention
The main policy issue is the balance between limiting screen time for developmental reasons and preserving flexibility for classroom instruction or child-specific needs. Potential points of contention include whether the prohibition is too restrictive for teachers using digital tools in early learning, and how schools will implement the rule consistently. The bill explicitly addresses one likely concern by exempting children with IFSPs, IEPs, or 504 plans, indicating that special education and disability accommodations are a key consideration.
Early childhood education; guidelines for limited screen time for children in certain licensed child-care facilities, certain preschools, and public kindergarten established, annual training requirement for teachers and certain staff members established, Department of Early Childhood Education, Department of Human Resources, and State Board of Education authorized to implement and enforce limited screen time requirements