DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Senate lawmakers debated the governor’s proposal that would restrict personal electronic device use during instructional time in classrooms.

The bill passed the floor by a vote of 49 to 0. The bill sponsor, State Senator Lynn Evans (R) moved to substitute the Iowa Senate version for the Iowa House version just passed last week. That version was amended to include a specific date for the state department of education to develop a model policy for school districts to follow.

“I believe that this is actually good legislation because we are encouraging school boards to take up a matter that we all know could be a problem, but it doesn’t take away local control,” said State Senator Lynn Evans, (R) District 3 from Aurelia.

A democratic state senator proposed an amendment to add private schools to be included in the language of requiring a phone restriction. The bill as written would require school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools and innovation zone schools to have a policy relating to electronic device use. That language does not fully include all private schools in the state.

“Since we are sending an awful lot of state money to private schools, hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars every year, one of the fastest growing parts of our state budget, the legislature should have a say,” said State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D) District 14 from Waukee.

That amendment was voted down by the Senate Republican majority. One senator from the majority party read off comments that a high school student in the state shared at a subcommittee for the bill back at the beginning of the session.

“It’s clear the reality they are residing in isn’t good, suicide rates and depression rates have skyrocketed and the ability to socialize for this generation has diminished. Overall, it is better for the majority of students to have a ban on cell phones,” said State Senator Kara Warme (R) District 26 from Ames.

The bill now goes back over to the Iowa House where the body will consider the amendment filed in the Iowa Senate. Barring any further changes in the chamber, the bill would be cleared to send to Governor Reynolds to sign into law if passed.

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