Many North Carolina legislators want to prohibit cellphone use in K-12 schools but they're still hammering out the details of what a new law might look like.

The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday advanced a bill that would require each school to prohibit students from using, displaying or having a wireless communication device turned on during instructional time.

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Senate Bill 55 allows for exceptions under select circumstances, including:

  • If authorized by a teacher for educational purposes.
    • For use in the event of an emergency.
      • If required by a student's individualized education program.
        • To manage a student's health care, in accordance with a documented medical condition.

          If enacted, schools would be required to implement the ban by Sept. 1. The legislation needs approval from the Senate, House and Gov. Josh Stein to become law.

          The move comes a day after a House committee advanced a bill that’s similar, though not as strict. House Bill 87 would also require each school to adopt a wireless policy but would allow schools to limit cell use instead of banning it outright.

          About two-thirds of the state's school districts already have policies on cell phone use. Some schools require students to leave phones in locked pouches all day. Others have phone bins at the front of each classroom, but allow students to use their phones between classes.

          The bill, introduced by three Republican senators, received bipartisan support in Wednesday’s committee meeting.

          Some members said they’re concerned that schools, in response to the bill, would choose to lock phones away during class time. That could delay communications during an emergency, said Sen. Sophia Chitlik, D-Durham.

          “In an emergency, every second counts, and that time to power-on a phone could, for some children, be the difference between life and death,” Chitlik said. “In many mass shooting incidents, unfortunately, the students are the ones who call for help.”

          Still, no committee member expressed opposition to the bill. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, said lawmakers are broadly in agreement that cell phone use disrupts class instruction and that social media use, in particular, can hurt students’ mental health.

          “This isn’t an urban or rural issue, it’s not a Democrat or Republican issue. It’s about getting our kids focused in the classroom and away from social media,” Chaudhuri said.