State Senator Rita Sanders introduced LB 140 which states that in the state of Nebraska school districts will implement a phone policy banning phones during school hours unless deemed necessary by administrators.

Sanders said that she loves being a part of a district that is already ahead of the game in challenging specific issues, such as what BPS schools have done with implementing their own phone policy.

Sanders said concerns from teachers and parents, as well as test scores dropping, have all been linked to distractions, the number one distraction being phones.

“The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Nebraska contacted me and said ‘we have a lot of parents calling across the state,’” Sanders said. “There are concerns, particularly with the teachers.”

The bill says that this has been declared as an emergency. Sanders said this is a clause to make sure it gets done this year. She said she believes this is important and should be done as soon as possible.

“There would be less bullying, less distraction, physically and mentally,” Sanders said. “I think it’s important to pay attention to that long term.”

To Sanders, it was a surprise that there was no opposition in the voting for the bill. She said people she’s talked to are more often than not in favor rather than against.

“We had some parents there that I thought would be in opposition,” Sanders said. “We had a parent that said they’re learning so much, and I learned a lot at the hearing as well.”

Overall, Sanders said she is learning more and more throughout the process of working through this bill. She said she thinks this will bring many benefits and is excited to see it take place.

This bill passed the first round of voting on Mar 3, 44-0, making it to the next round of debate which has yet to be scheduled.

“I think my biggest surprise is the teachers that are so excited to teach again, and I did not realize some of the distractions,” Sanders said.