(Feb. 6, 2026) – Today, the House Education Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2421, 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 and requiring school districts to report on the amount of screen time that certain students experience during a typical school day.
The committee heard from proponents:
- Adrienne Olejnik, Kansas Action for Children
- Representative Kristey Williams (R-Augusta)
- Members of the Public: Kim Whittman, Ngoc Vuong, Ava Gustin, Katie Barrientos
- Kevin Cronister, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
- April Homan, Alliance for a Healthy Kansas
- Morgan Ballard Superintendent USD 459 Bucklin Schools
- Katie Longhauser, Kids Digital Health Hub
- Many additional written comments were submitted to the committee in support
Testimony was also presented by several students who shared neutral concerns in addition to Dr. Beryl New with the Kansas State Department of Education.