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

SB 2099 requires all Mississippi public school districts, charter schools, and specific state schools (like the Mississippi School for the Arts) to adopt policies banning or restricting student cell phone use during class or under school supervision by January 1, 2027. Schools must submit these policies to the State Department of Education, with noncompliance resulting in daily funding deductions from their total funding formula. Exceptions permit cell phone use for emergencies, medical necessity (verified by a healthcare provider), or as required in a student’s special education plan. The bill also prohibits suspending or expelling students solely for violating this policy, allowing suspension only as a last resort.