South Dakota Lawmakers Move Forward with Statewide School Cell Phone Ban

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A debate that has simmered since smartphones became ubiquitous in the early 2010s gained significant traction in the South Dakota State Capitol this week. A bill aimed at “unplugging” students during the school day, Senate Bill 198, has advanced to the Senate floor, underscoring growing tensions between student performance and the tradition of local school control.

While property tax debates have dominated the early stages of the legislative Session, the question of how to handle mobile devices in classrooms has now taken center stage.

The Case for a “Bell-to-Bell” Ban

Sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Chris Karr (R-Sioux Falls), SB 198 proposes a statewide restriction on student cell phone use. Karr argues that the devices have reached a critical point of harming academic performance and contributing to what he describes as technology addiction among the state’s youth.

·        Current Statistics: Karr noted that at least 38 states have enacted school phone laws, with 26 implementing “bell-to-bell” policies similar to SB 198.

·        Academic Impact: Proponents cited declining test scores—such as reading proficiency dropping to 35% in 2024—as a primary driver for the legislation.

·        The Policy: The bill states students “may not use a cell phone during the day,” but leaves the specific details of what that looks like to individual school boards.

Opposition Cites Local Control

Despite the focus on student well-being, the proposal faces strong opposition from the South Dakota Department of Education and the state’s education lobby. Secretary of Education Joe Graves argues that while phones create significant problems, the state should not mandate a one-size-fits-all solution.

“The issue before us is not whether phones should be eliminated from classrooms, but just who should be making that decision... the best answer to that is educators at the local level,” Graves said. He added that South Dakotans are “ornery cusses who don’t want to be told what to do even when father does know best.”

Lawmakers like Senator Lauren Nelson (R-Yankton) also expressed skepticism. Nelson noted that many districts in her area have already implemented successful policies tailored to their specific needs. She cited examples in which one superintendent imposed a total ban, while another allowed juniors and seniors to keep phones to prepare for college.

Legislative Status

The Senate Education Committee amended the bill’s title from “instructional time” to “school day” to better reflect its broad reach. Following a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, the committee sent the proposal to the full Senate floor without recommendation.

Under this status, SB 198 will require a majority motion from the Senate to be placed on the calendar for full debate.