Education; require public schools to adopt policies prohibiting or restricting cell phone possession or use by students in class.

SB 2069 requires all Mississippi public school districts, charter schools, and specific state schools (like the Mississippi School for the Arts) to adopt cell phone policies by January 1, 2027, banning or restricting student phone use during class or under staff supervision. Schools failing to comply face daily funding deductions from the state's total funding formula. The bill allows exceptions for emergencies, medical needs (per a healthcare provider), or individualized education programs (IEPs). It also prohibits suspending or expelling students solely for violating this policy, permitting suspension only as a last resort.