Senate unanimously passes bill to convene working group on school-provided technology

Senator Taylor moved the final reading and passage of Senate File 23 35, which directs the Department of Education, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, to convene and provide administrative support for a working group to review research on the impact of school-provided technology on students' cognitive function and to recommend best practices for mitigating negative impacts.

"The working group will submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the general assembly at the end of the calendar year," Taylor said in opening remarks, framing the bill as a short, simple measure with potential importance for classrooms and families. Taylor noted prior action addressing student cell-phone use during the school day and said the bill is intended to identify where school-provided devices may be contributing to problems with attention and learning.

The motion for final reading carried, and the roll-call vote recorded 42 yeas and 0 nays; the clerk declared the bill passed and the title agreed to. No floor amendments or extended debate are recorded in the transcript.

After passage the sponsor and other senators were acknowledged, and the chamber ordered the bill messaged immediately along with other passed measures.