South Dakota House Revives Bill to Ban Phones in Classrooms

Lawmakers add amendment to revive proposal after initial committee rejection.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The South Dakota state House is reconsidering a bill to ban cell phones in classrooms. The bill was initially shot down in a committee meeting on Monday, but was "smoked out" on Tuesday, meaning one-third of House members voted to bring it back for further consideration. Lawmakers added an amendment to the bill, which convinced enough members to revive it despite objections from the state's Education Secretary.

Why it matters

The debate over cell phone use in schools is an ongoing issue, with proponents arguing phones are disruptive to learning, while opponents say they can be valuable educational tools. This bill reflects the ongoing tensions around balancing technology in the classroom.

The details

The original bill to ban cell phones in South Dakota classrooms was rejected twice in a committee meeting on Monday. However, the bill was then "smoked out" on Tuesday, meaning enough House members - at least one-third - voted to bring it back for further consideration. Lawmakers added an amendment to the bill, which convinced additional members to support it, despite objections from state Education Secretary Joseph Graves.

  • The original bill was rejected in a committee meeting on Monday.
  • The bill was "smoked out" and revived in the House on Tuesday.

The players

Joseph Graves

The Secretary of Education for the state of South Dakota, who has objected to the proposed cell phone ban in classrooms.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The amended bill will now move forward for further consideration and potential vote in the state House.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing tensions around balancing the role of technology, including cell phones, in the classroom and the challenge of crafting policies that address both educational and practical concerns.