PA House approves student cell phone ban that critics say is full of holes

(The Center Square) - Both parties in the state House on Monday were split in passing what was called a "bell to bell" ban on student cell phone use, even though many students will be able to avoid it.

In a separate action, the House approved a bill intended to prevent data centers from being designated public utilities, a scenario one lawmaker said would lead to a "digital dictatorship."

The vote on the cell phone ban bill, sponsored by Sen. Devlin Robinson of Allegheny County, was 141-62. Big chunks of both parties were against it, with 'no' votes coming from 25 Democrats and 37 Republicans.

Even though it has already been passed by the Senate, the bill will be returned to that chamber for another vote because it was amended in the House.

"The vote that we take today will impact an entire generation," Democratic Rep. Mandy Steele of Allegheny County said on the House floor. "Our children are being held captive by big tech."

Cell phones, she said, were designed to "grab" kids young and hold them for life. "Test scores are down, depression is up" and so are child hospitalizations, eating disorders, and suicide, Steele said.

The bill calls on school entities to come up with details of their individual bans and adopt a policy by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The entities covered by the bill include school districts, charter schools, private schools, intermediate units, career and technical schools and others.

In general, the new policies must prohibit the use of a cell phone during the school day while on school property; must describe how the student's possession of a phone is to be restricted; and must cover enforcement and oversight.

The bill spells out certain exceptions, and also would allow a school principal to issue his or her own exceptions.

It was the exceptions that were attacked by Republican Rep. Scott Barger of Blair County. One category would be students who have individualized education programs.

In some recent years, the number of public school children receiving special education has been around 19%. Barger said his wife worked in a classroom where 17 our of 22 students have "IEP's."

If the bill became law, he said, it would "cause stress for teachers and administrators." What was needed, Barger said, was a bill that banned cell phones for students "period. No exceptions."

The bill that seeks to prevent data centers from being classified as public utilities passed 202-1. The lone 'no' vote came from Berks County Democratic Rep. Manuel Guzman.

The sponsor, Democratic Rep. Chris Pielli of Chester County, said artificial intelligence and data center companies have started a push for the data centers to be considered public utilities. Should they win that status, Pielli said, they would be able to inhibit a community's input on where a data center should be placed, and acquire the ability to use the eminent domain process to take land.

Pielli said the General Assembly must act "before this digital dictatorship takes root."

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.