OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — The Oklahoma Senate advanced legislation Wednesday to make the state’s “bell to bell” cellphone restrictions in public schools permanent, passing House Bill 1276 on a 41-5 vote.
The measure would extend the state requirement that every public school district maintain a “bell to bell” policy prohibiting students from having cellphones in school.
“When I first introduced legislation to limit cellphones in schools three years ago, I never could have imagined this small change would have such a big impact across Oklahoma,” said Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, vice chair of the Senate Education Committee.
Seifried said the policy has increased classroom engagement and led to more students checking out library books and socializing, adding that she has heard “success stories from every corner of the state.”
The Senate release said Oklahoma is among more than three dozen states that require schools to prohibit or restrict student cellphone use during the day, with most requiring “bell to bell” policies.
Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, the primary House author of HB 1276, said the legislation is intended to preserve results already seen from keeping distractions out of the classroom.
HB 1276 returns to the House for final consideration before it can advance to the governor.
