Legislators meet with students to discuss state government, changes in law

State Reps. Rylee Linting and Jamie Thompson on Tuesday visited Downriver-area schools to highlight how a bill becomes a law while sharing details on a newly signed law benefitting students and teachers.

Linting met with students from a pair of social studies classes at Trenton High School and Thompson spoke with civics students at Woodhaven High School. While discussing their role as state representatives, the legislative process and how policy ideas become laws, they were joined by state Rep. Mark Tisdel, whose bill requiring Michigan K-12 schools to develop policies restricting smartphones during instruction time was signed into law in February. These new, uniform policies will begin in the upcoming school year and were the culmination of months-long efforts to keep students more focused and educators from having to compete with screens.

“When kids are in the classroom, they should be preparing for their futures – not buried in their cell phone,” said Thompson, of Brownstown. “This is obviously going to be a change, but it is a needed change. It’s something that parents and school officials throughout our state have consistently called for, and we helped deliver it in the House. Some schools and districts have instituted their own policies already, but enforcement can be difficult without state backing. This law gives them something to point to and allows parents, students and communities to all get on the same page as we combat an out-of-control rise of cell phones in classrooms.”

The new law outlines exemptions for medically necessary devices, district-issued devices, devices used for academic purposes or classroom assignments at the teacher’s discretion, and devices supporting special education programs, IEPs, or 504 Plans. Emergency use is permitted as long as it does not interfere with safety protocols or endanger anyone on campus. Students would also still be able to use their phones during non-instruction time between classes and during lunch.

As of January, nearly 30 states have passed full bans on cell phone use and others have required districts to establish their own policies or limit when cell phones can be used in class. A 2024 American Association of Educators survey of over 1,500 teachers from across the country found that 70 percent want cellphones to be banned during the school day. In addition, 74 percent of U.S. adults said in a Pew Research poll done last year that they would support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class. That was up six percent from a similar poll done the previous year.

“We need to promote positive, robust learning environments for students and support our hardworking teachers,” said Linting, of Wyandotte. “Part of that involves getting rid of a major distraction in the classroom that curbs kids’ learning potential. It was great to meet with students and explain what’s being done and why it’s being done now. As the youngest member serving in the Legislature, it’s great to see young people who want to know more about our government process and are actively engaged with decisions that impact them. These conversations are incredibly important as we go forward.”

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Jamie Thompson, of Brownstown, speaks with students at Woodhaven High School on Tuesday, April 7. Thompson was joined by state Rep. Mark Tisdel as they discussed their roles as state legislators, the process of introducing bills and how they become laws, and a new law regarding student cellphone use during instruction time that is set to begin with the 2026-27 school year.