Kansas Bill: HB 2299
Kansas Cell Phone School Policy Senate Bill
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Bill Information
Summary
Bill Summary
HB 2299 (Senate Substitute for Sub. for HB 2299) requires every public school district and every accredited nonpublic school in Kansas to adopt a “school day” cell‑phone policy under which students may not use or access personal electronic communication devices at any time during the school day; devices must be turned off and stored in an inaccessible location (not on the student’s person, backpack, or desk) or simply left at home or in a vehicle. Limited exceptions allow use only when a device is explicitly required as a last‑resort accommodation in a student’s IEP or 504 plan, or when a licensed physician certifies it as a medical necessity, and schools must provide alternative ways for students to contact parents; the bill also (1) bars staff from privately or directly communicating with students via social media for official school purposes and from requiring social media for assignments, and (2) clarifies that schools are not liable for damage to student‑owned devices.
Why It Matters to the Make America Healthy Again Movement
The MAHA Movement supports this bill because it removes a major source of distraction, anxiety, and sleep‑disrupting social‑media use from the school day, which aligns with MAHA’s focus on lowering digital stress, improving mental health, and allowing more attention for movement, in‑person connection, and real‑world learning. By requiring phones to be off and physically inaccessible “bell‑to‑bell” and restricting private staff–student social‑media contact, HB 2299 advances MAHA’s goal of making school a protected, lower‑screen environment that prioritizes focus, safety, and healthy relationships over constant notifications.
Introduced
03/19/2025
In Committee
03/13/2026
Passed
03/05/2026
Sponsors
Committee on Education
Primary Primary