(Pierre, SD) — The Senate Education Committee is advancing a bill to ban cell phones in schools. The debate over the proposed ban led to multiple votes before it eventually advanced by a five-to-two final vote. State lawmakers argued over mental health benefits of a potential ban and if the law crossed the lines of local control. The final bill that advanced would prohibit the use of cell phones for the entire school day, including lunch and in between classes. Exceptions would be permitted for medical reasons and other emergencies.
