After a back and forth between the 95th General Assembly and the House Education Committee, the amendment to Senate Bill 142 the bill has passed committee and is now set to be reviewed by the House floor.
The most recent amendment to the “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act” clarifies that school-issued electronic devices are exempt from the ban, with exceptions made for special events that occur during the school day. Additionally, the amendment permits students enrolled in concurrent courses, which may require two-factor authentication for remote learning, to use their phones for this purpose.
This bill, championed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has already received approval from the Senate. However, before it can be signed into law by the governor, it must first pass the full House and secure approval from the Senate for the amendment introduced on Tuesday.
Despite this progress, some critics argue that private schools accepting state funding through LEARNS Act vouchers should be required to adhere to the same rules as public schools, highlighting a perceived inequality.
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