School cellphone ban fails in South Dakota legislative committee

By: Meghan O'Brien

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: March 2, 2026

Words: 291

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

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PIERRE — A bill to ban cellphone use by public school students during the day narrowly failed in a South Dakota House of Representatives committee Monday.

The Education Committee voted 8-7 to defeat Senate Bill 198. The bill passed the state Senate 19-15 on Feb. 17.

Cellphone use policies should be in the hands of local school boards, opponents argued.

One-third of SD school districts remove or lock away student phones

The …

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