Gov. Kelly Armstrong. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
(. North Dakota Monitor) – Gov. Kelly Armstrong showed up at two committee hearings and held a press conference to advocate for eliminating student cellphone use in North Dakota public schools.
Identical amendments replacing most of the bill text were presented to both the Senate and House Education Committees during hearings on Senate Bill 2354 and House Bill 1160, both of which attempt to address student cellphone use during the school day.
“Bringing a substantial policy change like this after crossover as an amendment is not something we take lightly,” Armstrong said during a media availability following the hearings. “We need to get cell phones out of schools.”
Armstrong said it could be the most impactful thing lawmakers do during a legislative session for the mental health and well-being of students even with a large focus on property tax relief.
