Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF508 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to education policy; restricting cell phone use in schools; appropriating
3	3	1.3 money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.73.
4	4	1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
5	5	1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.73, is amended to read:
6	6	1.6 121A.73 SCHOOL CELL PHONE POLICY.
7	7	1.7 (a) A school district or charter school must adopt a policy on students' possession and
8	8	1.8use of cell phones in school by March 15, 2025. The Minnesota Elementary School Principals'
9	9	1.9Association and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals must collaborate
10	10	1.10to make best practices available to schools on a range of different strategies in order to
11	11	1.11minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health, and academic
12	12	1.12attainment.
13	13	1.13 (b) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the school district or charter school's school
14	14	1.14cell phone policy must prohibit cell phones and smart watches in school for students in
15	15	1.15grades kindergarten through 8 and prohibit cell phones and smart watches in classrooms
16	16	1.16for students in grades 9 through 12. The policy must provide exceptions for devices necessary
17	17	1.17for medical use, exceptions for devices included in an individualized education program
18	18	1.18for a student with a disability, or other exceptions at the discretion of the school principal.
19	19	1.19 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
20	20	1.20 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are
21	21	1.21appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
22	22	1.22designated.
23	23	1Sec. 2.
24	24	25-01302 as introduced12/16/24 REVISOR CR/AD
25	25	SENATE
26	26	STATE OF MINNESOTA
27	27	S.F. No. 508NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
28	28	(SENATE AUTHORS: MANN and Rasmusson)
29	29	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
30	30	Introduction and first reading01/23/2025
31	31	Referred to Education Policy 2.1 Subd. 2.Student cell phone use; statewide campaign.(a) For the Department of
32	32	2.2Education to contract for a statewide campaign regarding the negative effects of screen
33	33	2.3overuse and misuse on children:
34	34	2026............2.4 $
35	35	2027............2.5 $
36	36	2.6 (b) The campaign must be structured to provide information to parents and caregivers
37	37	2.7as early as possible and be repeated throughout a student's education from early childhood
38	38	2.8through grade 12.
39	39	2.9 (c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, one percent of the grant is
40	40	2.10available for grant administration.
41	41	2.11 (d) Any balance in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
42	42	2.12 (e) The base for fiscal year 2028 and later is $........
43	43	2.13 Subd. 3.Implementation grants.(a) For grants to school districts and charter schools
44	44	2.14to implement the required school cell phone use policies:
45	45	2026............2.15 $
46	46	2027............2.16 $
47	47	2.17 (b) A school district or charter school may apply, in the form and manner prescribed by
48	48	2.18the commissioner, for a grant to implement the school cell phone use policy. The grant
49	49	2.19funds must be used for onetime expenses related to the policy and not ongoing expenses
50	50	2.20such as employee salaries to enforce the policy.
51	51	2.21 (c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, one percent of the grant is
52	52	2.22available for grant administration.
53	53	2.23 (d) Any balance remaining in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027.
54	54	2.24 (e) These are onetime appropriations.
55	55	2Sec. 2.
56	56	25-01302 as introduced12/16/24 REVISOR CR/AD