Will cell phones be banned in Oklahoma schools? Leaders back the bill.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed its first bill of this legislative session, which would ban cell phones in schools across the state.

The bill requires school districts to choose how they implement a cell phone ban by developing a policy in time for the next school year.

There would be exceptions for emergencies, according to the bill's authors, as well as a grant program established to help school districts with implementation.

One of the state leaders backing this bill, Sen. Ally Seifred (R-Claremore), believes limiting cell phone use in schools would limit distractions in classrooms and allow students to focus on education.

"I want to give students the gift of undistracted learning," Seifred said. "For [those] seven hours a day, they are there to learn and listen and also to make friends, and not have their heads down in their phones."

If the bill becomes law, Seifred says the ban will improve education overall across the state.

The bill will now head to the Oklahoma State Senate, which also has its own bill on the subject. If passed, the bill will head to Gov. Kevin Stitt for approval.