To amend sections 3313.753 and 5502.262 of the Revised Code to generally prohibit student cellular telephone use in public schools.
Summary
SB 158 would require every Ohio school district board of education to adopt a student cell phone policy by September 1, 2025. The policy must emphasize limiting student cell phone use during school hours, reduce classroom distractions, and generally prohibit student cellular telephone use during the instructional day, with exceptions for learning activities, individualized education programs, Section 504 plans, and health-related needs. A student may also use a device to monitor or address a health concern if the district receives a written statement from the student’s physician. Districts that already have a policy meeting these requirements before the effective date are deemed compliant, and districts that adopt a total ban are also deemed to satisfy the bill’s requirements.
The bill also requires districts to adopt the policy at a public meeting, make it publicly available, and post it on the district website if one exists. The Department of Education and Workforce must develop a model policy within 60 days of the effective date, taking available research into account. In addition, the bill amends Ohio’s school emergency management law to require each school building’s emergency plan to include a protocol addressing student use of cellular telephones during an active threat or emergency, tying phone use rules to safety planning under section 5502.262.
Impact
SB 158 would amend sections 3313.753 and 5502.262 of the Revised Code, shifting Ohio law from a permissive local-policy framework to a statewide mandate for student cell phone policies in school districts. It would impose new duties on district boards to adopt, publish, and implement policies governing student phone use, while preserving limited exceptions for instruction, disability accommodations, and health needs. It also expands emergency management planning requirements by requiring school emergency plans to address student cell phone use during active threats or emergencies, affecting school districts and the broader set of educational entities covered by section 5502.262 through cross-reference.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support among Senate members, passing committee 6-0 and the full Senate 30-2. The vote pattern suggests general agreement with restricting student phone use in schools and with adding emergency-planning requirements. The absence of recorded committee testimony in the provided materials limits insight into detailed public or stakeholder reactions, but the strong vote margin indicates favorable sentiment overall.
Contention
The main policy tension is between a near-total restriction on student cell phone use during the instructional day and the need for exceptions. Supporters appear to favor reducing distractions and improving classroom focus, while the bill preserves carveouts for learning, special education and Section 504 accommodations, and health-related uses. Potential points of contention include how strictly districts must enforce the ban, how broad the exceptions should be, and whether local school boards should retain more discretion. The emergency-management provision may also raise implementation questions about how phones should be used during crises and how that protocol interacts with district safety plans.