Skip to main content

Kansas: SB281

House Substitute for Substitute for SB 281 by Committee on Education - Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours, prohibiting any employee of a school district from using social media to directly communicate with any student for official school purposes.

Topics

Children's Health & School Nutrition

Bill Information

MAHA Approved

Summary

Bill Summary

House Substitute for Substitute SB 281 requires every Kansas public school district to adopt a “school hours” policy that prohibits students from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices (including phones and smartwatches) during the school day, with devices turned off and stored away, and authorizes—but does not require—accredited nonpublic schools to do the same. It also allows districts to prohibit employees from privately or directly communicating with students via social media, text, or phone for official school purposes, except under narrow, policy‑defined exceptions.


Why It Matters to the Make America Healthy Again Movement

The MAHA Movement supports this bill because it creates bell‑to‑bell, low‑screen public school days by removing phones and similar devices from students’ hands, which is central to MAHA’s focus on reducing digital distraction and social‑media‑driven stress. By also tightening rules on staff–student social‑media contact, SB 281 helps make school a safer, healthier environment centered on in‑person relationships and learning rather than constant online connectivity.

Introduced

02/27/2025

In Committee

02/18/2026

Crossed Over

03/24/2025

Dead

04/11/2026

Sponsor

Education

Activity

02/18/2026

Senate Ruled materially changed and referred to Committee on Education

02/17/2026

House Final Action - Substitute passed as amended; Yea: 75 Nay: 48

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed as amended

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative Wikle was rejected

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Wikle

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative Caiharr was rejected

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Caiharr

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative Stogsdill was rejected

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Stogsdill

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative McNorton was adopted

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative McNorton

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative McNorton was rejected

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative McNorton

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative Fairchild was adopted

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Fairchild

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Representative Ward was adopted

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Ward

02/16/2026

House Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed

02/16/2026

House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Ward) - House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Ward)

02/16/2026

House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Fairchild) - House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Fairchild)

02/16/2026

House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative McNorton) - House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative McNorton)

02/16/2026

House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Stogsdill) - House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Stogsdill)

02/16/2026

House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Caiharr) - House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Caiharr)

02/16/2026

House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Wikle) - House Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Representative Wikle)

02/12/2026

House Committee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by Committee on Education

02/12/2026

House Committee on Education Report - House Committee on Education Report

03/24/2025

House Referred to Committee on Education

03/24/2025

House Received and Introduced

03/20/2025

Senate Emergency Final Action - Substitute passed; Yea: 40 Nay: 0

03/20/2025

Senate Committee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed

03/20/2025

Senate Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed

03/19/2025

Senate Committee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by Committee on Government Efficiency

03/19/2025

Senate Committee on Government Efficiency Report - Senate Committee on Government Efficiency Report

03/13/2025

Senate Hearing: Thursday, March 13, 2025, 9:30 AM Room 144-S

03/13/2025

Senate Government Efficiency Hearing (09:30:00 3/13/2025 Room 144-S)

03/03/2025

Senate Withdrawn from Committee on Education; Referred to Committee on Government Efficiency

02/28/2025

Senate Referred to Committee on Education

02/27/2025

Senate Introduced

Questions or suggestions?

Have questions about this bill or our legislative tracker? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.