South DakotaStudents would generally be barred from using phones during school hours
Students would generally be unable to use cell phones during school hours, while school districts would create discipline rules and honor listed exceptions.
What it does
Students generally could not use cell phones during the school day. Exceptions would cover approved accommodations, disability plans, teacher lessons, and emergencies, while districts would set discipline rules.
Argument forA school-day phone limit could reduce classroom distractions and help students focus on instruction.
Argument againstDistrict-set discipline could produce different consequences for similar phone violations across schools, because each board would create its own noncompliance policy.
More detail
Students would generally be prohibited from using cell phones during the school day. The rule would cover students during the school day set by each school district board. Exceptions include uses required or permitted under medical or educational accommodations, disability plans, teacher lesson plans, and emergencies affecting a student's or staff member's health, safety, or well-being. The passage also includes language about individual administrator approval for a student's health care, but the supplied amendment formatting does not show which version remains. Each school district would adopt disciplinary consequences for students who do not follow the rule. The restriction would apply during each school day; the supplied text gives no separate start date or end date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 5House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Failed, YEAS 28, NAYS 39 H.J. 524Latest
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 5House of Representatives Motion to amend , Passed, H.J. 524 Amendment 198CMajor
- Mar 4Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6 , Passed, YEAS 50, NAYS 17 H.J. 508
- Vote recorded Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Education Report out of committee without recommendation , Passed,
- Mar 3Recalled from committee (Rule 7-7) , Passed, H.J. 485
- Mar 2Education Deferred to the 41st legislative day , Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 7
- Vote recorded Deferred to the 41st legislative day. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 25Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 18First read in House and referred to House Education H.J. 356Minor
- Feb 17Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 19, NAYS 15 S.J. 281
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6 , Passed, YEAS 19, NAYS 14 S.J. 247
- Vote recorded Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Education Report out of committee without recommendation as amended , Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 2 S.J. 9
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded Report out of committee without recommendation as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 10Education Do Pass Amended , Failed, YEAS 3, NAYS 4 S.J. 9
- Feb 10Education Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 9 Amendment 198AMajor
- Feb 10Education Do Pass , Failed, YEAS 3, NAYS 4 S.J. 9Minor
- Feb 10Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 29First read in Senate and referred to Senate Education S.J. 139Introduced
- Mar 5House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Failed, YEAS 28, NAYS 39 H.J. 524Latest
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