Public schools; require school boards to adopt policy on bell-to-bell cell phone prohibition.

SB 2624 requires Mississippi public school districts to adopt and implement age-appropriate policies prohibiting student cell phone use during all "bell-to-bell" school hours (from first bell to dismissal, including class transitions and lunch). It mandates that elementary students store phones off-person during school, middle school students store phones during class time, and high schools follow similar rules while allowing limited use outside classrooms. Crucially, the bill prohibits suspending or expelling students for violating these policies and bans school internet access to social media except for teacher-directed educational use. The law also requires school boards to publicly post policies, integrate safety plans, and prevent using recess as punishment for phone violations. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.)