KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - “It’s simple—cell phones have no place in Missouri classrooms.”
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe urged the Missouri General Assembly to a Senate bill that would restrict the use of cell phones in public and charter schools.
Senate Bill 68 would aim to “promote students’ educational interests and provide a safe and effective working environment for school staff.”
The bill allows for cell phone use in emergencies, for instructional purposes, or when authorized under federal law, but otherwise requires school districts to adopt a policy on cell phones.
“At a minimum, the policy shall prohibit students from using devices during scheduled instructional activities,” the bill language reads.
Also included in the Senate bill is the requirement for school safety incidents and credible threats to be reported to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
In December, the Kansas State Board of Education accepted guidelines on how to handle cell phones in classrooms but ultimately said the decision is up to each school district.
“To stronger academic performance and protect the mental health of students statewide, Missouri needs distraction-free classrooms,” Kehoe stated .
The SB 68 language can be found below:
Current Bill Summary
SCS/SB 68 - This act creates provisions relating to safe school environments.
SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENT REPORTS (Section 160.664)
This act requires local educational agencies to report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) all school safety incidents and credible school safety threats that occur at each attendance center of the local educational agency, including, but not limited to, all actual incidents or credible threats of school shootings or other incidents or threats involving a firearm, explosive, knife, or other weapon, as provided in the act. DESE shall establish procedures for local educational agencies to follow when reporting a school safety incident or credible threat. These procedures shall include, but shall not be limited to, criteria to assist local educational agencies in determining what constitutes a school safety incident or credible threat that is required to be reported; a time frame within which such incident or threat shall be reported; and any other information required by DESE. DESE shall maintain and regularly update a database of all school safety incidents and credible school safety threats that are reported pursuant to the provisions of the act.
This provision is identical to HB 1074 (2025).
STUDENT ELECTRONIC PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE USAGE (Section 162.207)
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this act requires school districts and charter schools to adopt a written policy governing students' use of electronic personal communication devices. The policy shall be designed to promote students' educational interests and provide a safe and effective working environment for school staff.
At a minimum, the policy shall prohibit students from using devices during scheduled instructional activities, outline disciplinary actions for policy violations, and provide exceptions for device use in emergencies, for instructional purposes, or when authorized under federal law, as provided in the act. The policy shall be published on the school district or charter school website, and school employees or volunteers shall be protected from liability when acting in good faith and following the adopted procedures.
This provision is identical to SB 640 (2025), HB 306 (2025), HB 854 (2025), and HB 2889 (2024).
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