Committee Hears Testimony on Cell Phones in Schools

Apr 25, 2025

by Liz Gullett

As MLC’s Communications and Social Media Manager, Liz Gullett keeps clients informed and up-to-date on the goings on in Lansing and the Capitol.

Legislation requiring all school districts statewide to introduce cell phone policies received a hearing in the Senate Education Committee this week.

Key Points:

    • SB 234 was introduced by Senator Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), who chairs the committee.
    • The bill only requires school districts to create policies, it doesn’t specify what those policies must be.
    • It was purposefully left ambiguous to allow districts to make policies that best fit their schools, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work.
    • The bill allows for exemptions for medical use, device usage in an IEP, and for emergencies.
    • As introduced, the requirement would begin in the 2025-2026 school year, however, there was some concern over the ability to have policies created by that deadline.

Next Steps:

    • Chairwoman Polehanki is working on a substitute for the bill to clarify that districts must enforce the policies they enact.
    • The bill remains before the committee awaiting further consideration.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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