Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 206 · 2025 · Senate · Education Committee

Cell phone-free schools policy requirement

AI-generated

(New Title) requiring school districts and chartered public schools to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education.

Requires school districts and chartered public schools to adopt policies establishing cell phone-free education.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requiring school districts and chartered public schools to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“School boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools shall develop and adopt a policy governing the use of student cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices in schools.”
Section 1
“Such policy shall prohibit all personal communication device use by students from when the first bell rings to start instructional time until the dismissal bell rings to end the academic school day, with approved exceptions determined by the superintendent or their designee with respect to student medical, disability, or language proficiency need.”
Section 1
“Such policy shall be developed in collaboration with school parents and teachers and shall be reviewed annually.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Sharon CarsonRPresident of the Senate
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary

Also: Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

20 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

80% support20% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“If you have tried teaching in a school, you will know why cell phone use in school should be limited.”
— Bridget Powers, Plymouthsupports
“As an educator myself, I know how cell phones can be misused in classrooms if there are no limitations established by a school-wide policy.”
— Cynthia Vascak, Camptonsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0742s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0742sadopted
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0742sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 20, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2249h (NT)9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-2249hAdopted345–9
    Overall
    97% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callAmendment 2025-2603hFailed164–192How they voted
    Overall
    46% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    10–1865% yea
    Democrats
    154–696% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2249hAdopted314–42
    Overall
    88% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of Cadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingSenate Education1:09:41–1:23:4314m 2slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0742s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0742s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0742s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration15:56–19:153m 19slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 20, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration28:00–29:101m 10slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2249h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Ward, Ricciardi, Fenton; (In Recess
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floor6:09:17–6:16:076m 50slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2249h — adopted, division 314-42; Amendment # 2025-2249h (NT) — adopted, division 345-9; Amendment # 2025-2603h — failed, roll call 164-192

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 3
  2. Feb 4, 2025SenHearing: 02/04/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:45 am; SC 8
  3. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0742s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0742s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0742s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 11 P. 112
  7. Apr 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2025 10:15 am LOB 205-207
  8. May 20, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/20/2025 09:30 am LOB 206-208
  9. May 20, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2249h (NT) 05/20/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 27 P. 18
  10. May 28, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2603h
  11. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2249h (NT): AA DV 345-9 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 111
  12. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2603h: AF RC 164-192 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 111
  13. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2249h: MA DV 314-42 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 113
  14. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Ward, Ricciardi, Fenton; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  16. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  17. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Cordelli, Noble, Litchfield, Nadeau 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  18. Jun 16, 2025Sen==CANCELLED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/16/2025, 10:30 am, Room 100, SH
  19. Jun 17, 2025SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 06/17/2025, 02:00 pm, Room 100, SH
  20. Jun 19, 2025SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 06/19/2025, 02:00 pm, Room 100, SH
  21. Jun 17, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. Osborne Replaces Rep. Noble 06/17/2025 HJ 17 P. 25
  22. Jun 20, 2025HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 17
  23. Jun 19, 2025SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 16

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.