1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education policy; restricting cell phone use in schools; appropriating
1.3 money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.73.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.73, is amended to read:
1.6 121A.73 SCHOOL CELL PHONE POLICY.
1.7 (a) A school district or charter school must adopt a policy on students' possession and
1.8use of cell phones in school by March 15, 2025. The Minnesota Elementary School Principals'
1.9Association and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals must collaborate
1.10to make best practices available to schools on a range of different strategies in order to
1.11minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health, and academic
1.12attainment.
1.13 (b) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the school district or charter school's school
1.14cell phone policy must prohibit cell phones and smart watches in school for students in
1.15grades kindergarten through 8 and prohibit cell phones and smart watches in classrooms
1.16for students in grades 9 through 12. The policy must provide exceptions for devices necessary
1.17for medical use, exceptions for devices included in an individualized education program
1.18for a student with a disability, or other exceptions at the discretion of the school principal.
1.19 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
1.20 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are
1.21appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
1.22designated.
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR CR/AD 25-0130212/16/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2516
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Stephenson, Nadeau and Tabke03/20/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Policy 2.1 Subd. 2.Student cell phone use; statewide campaign.(a) For the Department of
2.2Education to contract for a statewide campaign regarding the negative effects of screen
2.3overuse and misuse on children:
2026............2.4 $
2027............2.5 $
2.6 (b) The campaign must be structured to provide information to parents and caregivers
2.7as early as possible and be repeated throughout a student's education from early childhood
2.8through grade 12.
2.9 (c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, one percent of the grant is
2.10available for grant administration.
2.11 (d) Any balance in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
2.12 (e) The base for fiscal year 2028 and later is $........
2.13 Subd. 3.Implementation grants.(a) For grants to school districts and charter schools
2.14to implement the required school cell phone use policies:
2026............2.15 $
2027............2.16 $
2.17 (b) A school district or charter school may apply, in the form and manner prescribed by
2.18the commissioner, for a grant to implement the school cell phone use policy. The grant
2.19funds must be used for onetime expenses related to the policy and not ongoing expenses
2.20such as employee salaries to enforce the policy.
2.21 (c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, one percent of the grant is
2.22available for grant administration.
2.23 (d) Any balance remaining in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
2.24 (e) These are onetime appropriations.
2Sec. 2.
REVISOR CR/AD 25-0130212/16/24