LINCOLN, Neb. -- On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen testified before the Nebraska State Legislature’s Education Committee in support of Legislative Bill 140.

LB140 proposes to ban cell phone use by students when they are at school. The bill was introduced by Senator Rita Sanders, at the governor’s request, and it aims to reduce classroom distractions and address the mental health impacts of constant cell phone use.

“There are two reasons for this bill. First, it addresses what has become one of the most frequent and difficult to manage distractions in the classroom – students’ cell phones,” said Pillen. “The second reason for this legislation is the serious impact that constant cell phone use has on our kids.”

If passed, LB140 would require school boards to establish policies governing cell phone use, with exceptions for educational purposes, emergencies, and health management.

During his testimony, Pillen cited findings from Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, noting that young people receive an average of 192 alerts daily from social media apps, which is about one notification every five minutes.

Sanders emphasized the importance of creating a distraction-free educational environment.

“I am committed to supporting policies that prioritize the well-being and academic growth of every student," she said. "By removing electronic communication devices from the classroom, we can create that environment, allowing both teachers and students to fully succeed."

Both Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Brian Maher also testified supporting LB140.