(BISMARCK, ND) – North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong and Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strinden are touting a pair of identical bills that would ban ‘a student from using a personal electronic device during school hours.’
The bills, Senate Bill 2354 and House Bill 1160, were heard in the House and Senate Education Committees, respectively, on Wednesday.
Governor Kelly Armstrong says the legislation is something that needs to be acted on now.
“This was always going to be a May 1st issue for us in the Armstrong administration,” he said. “Turns out it needs to be an issue now. We can’t wait two years.”
Armstrong said the issue is three-fold.
“Kids are more anxious, kids have more mental health issues, kids are addicted to their phones,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
Eighth grader Addyson Rademacher-Nyame, of Mandan, calls the legislation ‘a great start to building healthy habits.’
