US EditionShould cell phones be banned from classrooms? Michigan House votes yes
The bill passed 99 to 10 mandates public schools to ban cell phone use during class, allowing exceptions for medical devices and instructional technology.
- On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Michigan House of Representatives approved House Bill 4141, banning smartphone use during instructional time in K-12 public and charter schools by a 99-10 vote.
- The effort began when Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, first introduced the measure in 2023 and refined it with legislative Democrats and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after it failed last year, citing research linking smartphones to mental health and bullying.
- The measure exempts medically necessary devices, district-owned instructional technology and old-style flip phones; school districts may enforce stricter bans but face no penalties for noncompliance.
- Supporters expect the Michigan Senate to vote soon, and if signed, the bill would apply to all Michigan public schools before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's State of the State address.
- Nationally, Florida led classroom cellphone bans in 2023, many states and Europe and Canada followed, and Pew Research found 75% of American parents support such laws.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Michigan House Passes Cell Phone Ban in K-12 Schools
Jan. 15, 2026 ~ State Representative Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester) discusses the passage of his bill that bans cell phones in schools. DETROIT, MI ~ After falling short last year, the Michigan House of Representatives has successfully passed a bill to ban cell phones in all Michigan public K-12 schools during instructional time. State Representative Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester) introduced the bill, and joined Chris Renwick, filling in for Paul W. Smit…
Michigan House starts 2026 with bipartisan vote to ban cell phones in schools
Michigan lawmakers on Wednesday kicked off 2026 with a bipartisan vote to approve one of the few priorities shared by Republicans and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Getting cell phones out of K-12 classrooms is a big deal,” said state Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, sponsor of House Bill 4141. Tisdel has pursued the legislation since 2023, and now has the support of education committee chairs in both legislative chambers, as well as the governor’s…
Tisdel-led cellphones in school ban unanimously passes in the House
A bill creating statewide restrictions on cell phone use for all K-12 students passed the Michigan House on Wednesday, five months after failing by only three votes. This time House Bill 4141 passed easily with 99 votes in favor, 10 against and one abstention. The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration. Republican Rep. Mark Tisdel of Rochester, who co-authored Bill 4141 along with Rep. Nancy Deboer (R-Dist. 86 – Holland) and Kathy S…
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