Senate Bill 2151: Cell Phone Prohibition in Schools

February 19, 2025March 5, 2025 Bill Tracker

Latest Action

---

SB 2151 died in the House Education Committee on March 4. 

Explanation of the Bill

The committee substitute for Senate Bill 2151 would require public school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy banning or restricting students’ cell phone use by January 1, 2026. School districts would be required to send a copy of this policy to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). 

School districts or schools that failed to adopt a cell phone policy would lose funding. The State Department of Education would deduct one day’s worth of school or district funds under the school funding formula for each day of noncompliance after January 1, 2026.

Cell phone policies could include exceptions to allow a student to use a cell phone in the following cases: 

• In the case of an emergency or threat of danger;
• If a nurse, physician, or surgeon has determined that the possession of a cell phone is medically necessary for the health of the student; or
• If the possession of a cell phone is required in a student’s individualized education program (IEP).

Students could not be expelled for breaking their school or district’s cell phone policy. Schools could only suspend students for breaking the cell phone policy as a last resort. 

This act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

---