Education; require public schools to adopt policies prohibiting or restricting cell phone possession or use by students in class.

S. B. No. 2069 *SS08/R1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) DeBar

SENATE BILL NO. 2069

AN ACT TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, PUBLIC CHARTER 1
SCHOOL AND AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND CERTAIN STATE HIGH 2
SCHOOLS, TO ADOPT AND SEND TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 3
NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2027, A SPECIFIC POLICY BANNING THE 4
POSSESSION, OR RESTRICTING THE USE, OF CELL PHONES BY STUDENTS 5
DURING CLASS OR WHILE UNDER THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF A 6
SCHOOL EMPLOYEE; TO PROVIDE THAT, IF A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT 7
FAILS TO ADOPT AND TRANSMIT A POLICY AS REQUIRED, THE STATE 8
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DEDUCT ONE DAY'S WORTH OF THE 9
SCHOOL'S OR DISTRICT'S FUNDS UNDER THE TOTAL FUNDING FORMULA FOR 10
EACH DAY AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, THAT THE SCHOOL OR DISTRICT IS 11
NONCOMPLIANT; TO PROVIDE FOR POTENTIAL EXCEPTIONS WHICH ALLOW 12
STUDENTS TO POSSESS OR USE CELL PHONES UNDER CERTAIN 13
CIRCUMSTANCES; TO PROVIDE THAT SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR SUSPENSION OR 14
EXPULSION MAY NOT CONSIST OF ONLY A VIOLATION OF THE CELL PHONE 15
POSSESSION AND USE POLICY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED UNDER THIS 16
ACT, EXCEPT THAT SUSPENSION MAY BE USED AS A DISCIPLINARY MEASURE 17
OF LAST RESORT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 18
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 19
SECTION 1. (1) (a) Each public school district, public 20
charter school and agricultural high school, the Mississippi 21
Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the Mississippi School of the 22
Arts, and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science 23
shall, no later than January 1, 2027, adopt and send to the State 24
Department of Education a specific policy banning the possession, 25
or restricting the use, of cell phones by students during class or 26
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while under the supervision and control of a school employee. The 27
State Department of Education shall retain a copy of the policy on 28
file. 29
(b) If a school or school district fails to adopt and 30
transmit a policy as required in this subsection, the State 31
Department of Education shall deduct one (1) day's worth of the 32
school's or district's funds under the total funding formula for 33
each day after January 1, 2027, that the school or district is 34
noncompliant. 35
(2) In developing and adopting a policy under this section, 36
a school or district may include exceptions to allow a student to 37
possess or use a cell phone under any of the following 38
circumstances: 39
(a) In the case of an emergency, or in response to a 40
perceived threat of danger; 41
(b) When a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, 42
physician or surgeon determines that the possession or use of a 43
cell phone is medically necessary for the health or well-being of 44
the student; or 45
(c) When the possession or use of a cell phone is 46
required in a student's individualized education program. 47
(3) Students may be suspended or expelled from attendance at 48
school for sufficient cause; however, in no case may sufficient 49
cause for suspension or expulsion consist of only a violation of 50
the cell phone possession and use policy developed and implemented 51
S. B. No. 2069 *SS08/R1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Education; require public schools to adopt
policies prohibiting or restricting cell phone
possession or use by students in class.
under this section, except that suspension may be used as a 52
disciplinary measure of last resort. 53
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 54
and after July 1, 2026. 55