Minnesota Lawmakers Push Bill to Limit Cell Phone Use in Schools

The proposed legislation would ban personal devices for younger students and restrict phone use during class time for high schoolers.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A bill in the Minnesota House would remove personal devices from students in 8th grade and younger and ban cell phones during class time for high schoolers. The bill passed the Minnesota Senate last year but failed in the House, and supporters are now pushing the measure again during the current legislative session. Minnesota received a 'D' grade on a national report card for school cell phone policies, while North Dakota is considered one of the best in the country.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation aims to address concerns about the impact of cell phone use on student learning and safety in schools. Supporters argue that removing personal devices can enhance the learning environment and improve school safety, while opponents may raise concerns about accessibility and communication needs.

The details

The bill would prohibit personal devices for students in 8th grade and younger, and ban cell phone use during class time for high schoolers. Supporters say the difference in policies between Minnesota and North Dakota comes down to commitment at the state level, with North Dakota taking a more stringent approach. Advocates argue that cell phone bans can enhance school safety, citing support from the National Association of School Resource Officers.

  • The Minnesota Senate passed the bill last year, but it failed in the House.
  • The Minnesota Legislature is in session until mid-May, and the coming weeks will determine whether the bill has enough support to pass this year.

The players

Katrina Ball

A co-lead on the effort to pass the bill, who became convinced that the issue needs to be addressed at the state level after advocating at the local level.

Jordan Rasmusson

A state senator and co-author of the bill, who said concerns about student safety without phones do not hold up, pointing to support from the National Association of School Resource Officers.

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What they’re saying

“After advocating at the local level, I became convinced that this is a public health issue, and it needs to be addressed at the state level. So when they asked me to be a co-lead, I thought, 'Absolutely! I will try my best!'”

— Katrina Ball, Co-lead on the effort to pass the bill (Valley News Live)

“The National Association of School Resource Officers have come out and said that these types of cell phone bans enhance safety within the schools. Schools and kids are actually safer if not everyone has their cell phone out all the time.”

— Jordan Rasmusson, State senator and co-author of the bill (Valley News Live)

What’s next

The Minnesota Legislature is in session until mid-May, and the coming weeks will determine whether the bill has enough support to pass this year.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation in Minnesota highlights the ongoing debate around the role of cell phones in schools and the potential impacts on student learning and safety. As states continue to grapple with this issue, the outcome in Minnesota could set a precedent for other states considering similar policies.