SB142
To Create The Bell To Bell, No Cell Act; And To Amend The Requirements For Public School Discipline Policies With Regard To Student Use Of Personal Electronic Devices.
Last Action (Feb. 24, 2025): Notification that SB142 is now Act 122
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
The 'Bell to Bell, No Cell Act' mandates that Arkansas public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools establish and enforce policies restricting student access to personal electronic devices during the school day. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, schools must submit these policies to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for review and approval. The bill defines 'personal electronic device' broadly to include cell phones, smartwatches, laptops, and tablets. It requires schools to define emergency situations and establishes mandatory exemptions for students with specific disabilities (IEPs or 504 plans) or those needing devices for concurrent college enrollment. Schools are protected from liability for devices confiscated under these policies if they are lost, stolen, or damaged. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a citation under the state's Standards for Accreditation.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include public school teachers and administrators, who are provided with a clear legal framework to manage or eliminate classroom distractions caused by mobile devices. Students may also benefit from a classroom environment with reduced social media-related disruption, potentially improving academic focus and mental health outcomes as envisioned by the bill's sponsors.
Who Might Suffer?
Students who rely on personal electronic devices for communication with parents during the school day may be negatively impacted by these restrictions. Parents who prefer to maintain direct, unrestricted communication with their children during school hours for safety or personal reasons may also feel their ability to do so is curtailed. Additionally, school districts will face increased administrative burdens to draft, submit, and enforce these new policies.
Vote Records
Third Reading
Feb. 18, 2025View individual votes (35)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane English | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jonathan Dismang | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Greg Leding | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Missy Irvin | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bryan King | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Kim Hammer | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Stephanie Flowers | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Frederick Love | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Terry Rice | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Reginald Murdock | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Gary Stubblefield | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Dotson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| John Payton | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| Alan Clark | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ronald Caldwell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bart Hester | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jimmy Hickey | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Dan Sullivan | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| David Wallace | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Blake Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Justin Boyd | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clarke Tucker | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Scott Flippo | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clint Penzo | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Mark Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ricky Hill | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jamie Scott | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Breanne Davis | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ben Gilmore | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Joshua Bryant | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| Matt McKee | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Petty | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Steve Crowell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Tyler Dees | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt Stone | Republican | Senate | Yea |
Third Reading
Feb. 13, 2025View individual votes (100)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy Steele | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Fred Allen | Democrat | House | NV |
| Lane Jean | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Meeks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mark Perry | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jon Eubanks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matthew Shepherd | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jeff Wardlaw | Republican | House | Yea |
| Bruce Cozart | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Whitaker | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Mike Holcomb | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Magie | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Mark McElroy | Republican | House | Yea |
| Richard Womack | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jack Ladyman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Robin Lundstrum | Republican | House | Yea |
| Dwight Tosh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick Beck | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mary Bentley | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Eaves | Republican | House | Yea |
| Justin Gonzales | Republican | House | Nay |
| Julie Mayberry | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ken Ferguson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Ron Mcnair | Republican | House | NV |
| Marcus Richmond | Republican | House | Yea |
| Deann Vaught | Republican | House | Yea |
| Karilyn Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Sonia Eubanks Barker | Republican | House | Yea |
| Frances Cavenaugh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jimmie Gazaway | Republican | House | Yea |
| Roger Lynch | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Maddox | Republican | House | Yea |
| Aaron Pilkington | Republican | House | Yea |
| Johnny Rye | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Warren | Republican | House | Yea |
| Carlton Wing | Republican | House | Yea |
| Austin Mccollum | Republican | House | Yea |
| Carol Dalby | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steve Hollowell | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brian Evans | Republican | House | Yea |
| Lee Johnson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Andrew Collins | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Stan Berry | Republican | House | Yea |
| Harlan Breaux | Republican | House | Yea |
| Cameron Cooper | Republican | House | Yea |
| Nicole Clowney | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Cindy Crawford | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Garner | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Tippi McCullough | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jay Richardson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jim Wooten | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Ennett | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Richard McGrew | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joy Springer | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Howard Beaty | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tony Furman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendon Underwood | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Ray | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick McClure | Republican | House | Yea |
| Keith Brooks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ashley Hudson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jon Milligan | Republican | House | Yea |
| RJ Hawk | Republican | House | Yea |
| Wade Andrews | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rebecca Burkes | Republican | House | Yea |
| Hope Duke | Republican | House | Yea |
| Zack Gramlich | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mindy McAlindon | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Duffield | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stetson Painter | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steve Unger | Republican | House | Yea |
| Wayne Long | Republican | House | Yea |
| Scott Richardson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brandon Achor | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jeremiah Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joey Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Shad Pearce | Republican | House | Yea |
| Chad Puryear | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ryan Rose | Republican | House | Yea |
| Bart Schulz | Republican | House | Yea |
| Trey Steimel | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tara Shephard | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jeremy Wooldridge | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendra Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brit McKenzie | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steven Walker | Republican | House | Yea |
| Glenn Barnes | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Lincoln Barnett | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Alyssa Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Nick Burkes | Republican | House | Yea |
| Paul Childress | Republican | House | Yea |
| James Eaton | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brad Hall | Republican | House | Yea |
| Dolly Henley | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jessie McGruder | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jason Nazarenko | Republican | House | Yea |
| Randy Torres | Republican | House | Yea |
| Diana Gonzales Worthen | Democrat | House | Yea |
Third Reading
Feb. 4, 2025View individual votes (35)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane English | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jonathan Dismang | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Greg Leding | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Missy Irvin | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bryan King | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Kim Hammer | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Stephanie Flowers | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Frederick Love | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Terry Rice | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Reginald Murdock | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Gary Stubblefield | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Dotson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| John Payton | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Alan Clark | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ronald Caldwell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bart Hester | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jimmy Hickey | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Dan Sullivan | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| David Wallace | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Blake Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Justin Boyd | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clarke Tucker | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Scott Flippo | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clint Penzo | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Mark Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ricky Hill | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Jamie Scott | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Breanne Davis | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ben Gilmore | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Joshua Bryant | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt McKee | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Petty | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Steve Crowell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Tyler Dees | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt Stone | Republican | Senate | Yea |
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