(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A man uses a cell phone in New Orleans on Aug. 11, 2019. A number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) A bill that would restrict student access to cell phones during the school day has passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 

House Bill 1814 received bipartisan support and passed yesterday by a 126-75 vote. 

Under the legislation, students would be required to store their phones in a manner that prevents access during the school day, with exceptions for certain medical needs approved by school administrators. The policy is commonly referred to as a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban or an “away for the day” policy. 

The bill is sponsored by Mandy Steele, who represents Pennsylvania’s 33rd Legislative District in Allegheny County. 

The legislation now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.