The Legislature advanced LB 140 to Select File on a 44-0.
LB 140 (Sanders, at the request of the Governor) requires school districts to adopt a policy regulating student use of electronic communication devices (such as cell phones) on school property or at school functions by the 2025-26 school year. The policy must be created with input from students, parents, and educators and may include rules on discipline and enforcement. However, it cannot prevent device use in certain situations, such as when required by a student’s IEP or 504 plan, when authorized by a teacher for educational purposes, during emergencies, for healthcare management, or when deemed appropriate by school authorities.
The adopted committee amendments ensure that the bill applies to all electronic devices, not just cell phones. Additionally, the restrictions relating to instructional school functions, and the authority to permit device use for educational purposes rests with the school district, not individual teachers.
