Columbia representative proposes bill to ban cellphones in schools

COLUMBIA — Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, has pre-filed a bill to restrict cellphone use in schools.

Steinhoff is a former educator-turned-state representative who said she saw many students continuously distracted by their phones during her time as a teacher. She also said she saw an increase in mental health issues related to cellphone use.

Schools across the county have implemented policies on cellphone use in classrooms, while a few states have passed full bans. Eight in 10 teachers said their school district has policies on cellphone use, while 56% of them said those policies were easy to enforce, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

Steinhoff said other state bans sparked her mission to ban cellphones in Missouri classrooms. However, Steinhoff said she wants to let districts decide how to enforce the ban.

The pre-filed bill says phones are prohibited during “regularly scheduled instructional activities,” meaning the use of cellphones during non-instructional times is up to the district.

The bill allows students to use cellphones in the classroom during an emergency, if instructed by an employee or volunteer, or as part of a special education plan. Districts can decide further exceptions.

Steinhoff said she hopes districts decide to back teachers who issue punishment for students under the ban.

The first day of the legislative session is Jan. 8, 2025.