Connecticut Bans Cellphones in Schools

0:00It's April 28. You're listening to Hartford News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. Connecticut's house just passed, House Bill 5,035 with a vote of 117 to 31, banning cell phones in public. Schools from Bell to Bell across the whole state. That means no phones for students during the school day on school grounds, though districts can decide if kids stashed them in backpacks or locked. Pouches. This push comes straight from Democrats and Governor Ned Laman, who made it a top priority back in his February state of the state's speech. Exceptions kick in for kids with special education plans like IEPs or 504 plans keeping things flexible where accounts. Proponents argue, phones, fuel distractions, addiction, and even mental health struggles in youth, stealing time from real relationships and learning. Republicans, mostly Republicans, push back saying local school boards already handled this through state guidance and a blanket ban overrides there. Policies that allow phones at

1:04lunch or for classwork. Teachers' unions are all in, saying constant phone policing eats up class time and sparks fights with students. A statewide rule would simplify. Enforcement without teachers chasing kids every period. Some reps try to mending it to ban teacher phones too, for better role modeling, but that got shot down 123-24 over safety. Concerns like emergency calls. Now the bill heads to the Senate, where it needs to pass by May 6th to hit the Governor's desk and reshape school days statewide, aiming to dial. Back the digital noise for good.