H.54

An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Sponsors: Rep. Angela Arsenault , Rep. Matthew Birong, Rep. Doug Bishop, Rep. Tiffany Bluemle, Rep. Michael Boutin, Rep. Erin Brady, Rep. Thomas Burditt, Rep. Mollie Burke, Rep. Bridget Burkhardt, Rep. Gregory Burtt, Rep. R. Scott Campbell, Rep. Ela Chapin, Rep. Kevin Christie, Rep. Voranus Coffin, Rep. Allen "Penny" Demar, Rep. Joshua Dobrovich, Rep. Leonora Dodge, Rep. Abbey Duke, Rep. Gina Galfetti, Rep. Leslie Goldman, Rep. Kenneth Goslant, Rep. Edye Graning, Rep. James Harrison, Rep. Mark Higley, Rep. Philip "Jay" Hooper, Rep. Robert Hunter, Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Rep. Larry Labor, Rep. James Masland, Rep. Patricia McCoy, Rep. Brian Minier, Rep. Christopher Morrow, Rep. Michael Mrowicki, Rep. Michael Nigro, Rep. Robert North, Rep. Kate Nugent, Rep. Thomas Oliver, Rep. Gayle Pezzo, Rep. Phil Pouech, Rep. Monique Priestley, Rep. Christopher Pritchard, Rep. Barbara Rachelson, Rep. Lawrence Satcowitz, Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone, Rep. Heather Surprenant, Rep. Dara Torre, Rep. Chea Waters Evans, Rep. Candice White, Rep. Kevin Winter

Location: House Committee on Education

Last Recorded Action: 1/22/2025 - Read first time and referred to the Committee on Education

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
9:10 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Angela Arsenault, Sponsor, Chittenden-2
Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
10:15 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony from students and advocates

Elijah Renner, Student, Thetford Academy
David Thaxton, Student, Thetford Academy
Oliver Ranson, Student, Thetford Academy
Eliza Knowlten-Young, Student, Thetford Academy
Ulysses Junker, Student, Thetford Academy
Rebecca Yukica, Pediatrician, Bradford and East Thetford
Robin Osborne, Clinical Psychologist, East Thetford
Rima Carlson, Family Physician, Montpelier
Laura Derrendinger, Advocate, Middletown Springs, Vermont
Benjamin Clark, Member, Harwood Unified Union School District Board, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
2:50 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Mike McRaith, Associate Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
Friday, April 18, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
11:00 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony from Harwood Union High School students and principal

Meg McDonough, Principal, Harwood Union High School
Ellie Buckingham, Student, Harwood Union High School
Celia Wing, Student, Harwood Union High School
Liza Earle-Centers, Local Parent Advocate, Vermont Coalition of Phone and Social Media-Free Schools
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
9:19 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Walk-through and committee discussion

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
10:00 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Harris Strokoff, Psychiatrist and Medical Director, NCSS, Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, Green State Psychiatry
11:30 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony on cell phone use during emergencies

Sunni Eriksen, School Safety Program Manager, Vermont School Safety Center
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
10:00 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Mark-up and committee discussion

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
Stephanie Winters, Deputy Executive Director, Vermont Medical Society
Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
2:20 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Student testimony

Braeden Schuren Burns, Student, Main Street Middle School
Atticus Lawler, Student, U-32 Middle & High School
Isla Segal, Student, Woodstock Union Middle School
3:00 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony from the Connecticut State Board of Education

Erin Benham, Vice Chair, Connecticut State Board of Education
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
9:00 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Kate Mobley, Dean of Enrollment and Community Relations, Community College of Vermont
Wilson Garland, Chief Information Officer, Vermont State Colleges System
9:30 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Walk-through and mark-up of new draft

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
10:25 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony on district use of digital communications platforms

Meghan Baule, Director of Communications, Colchester School District
2:30 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Student testimony

Alex Young-Springer, Student, Hunt Middle School
Friday, May 2, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
1:00 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony from the Vermont Superintendents Association

Ryan Heraty, Superintendent, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
2:00 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Student testimony

Manny Van Fleet, Student, U-32 Middle & High School
Eddie McGrath, Student, Montpelier High School
Brann Boccia-Cole, Student, U-32 Middle & High School
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
10:20 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Mark-up

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
11:06 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Student testimony

Maggie Prong, Student, Colchester High School
Dylan Neely, Student, Colchester High School
Eliza Severin, Student, Colchester High School
11:30 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony defining social media

Laura Marquez-Garrett, Attorney, Social Media Victims Law Center
2:15 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Oliver Olsen, Representative, Vermont Independent Schools Association
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
9:00 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Jill Briggs Campbell, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
Lisa Helme, Assistant Director of Student Pathways, Agency of Education
Lindsey Hedges, Interim Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Agency of Education
9:45 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Mark-up and committee discussion

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
3:40 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Committee discussion on next steps

Friday, May 9, 2025
Committee(s):
House Committee on Education
10:45 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Mark-up of draft 4.1

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:00 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Walk-through of changes in draft 5.1

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Rep. Angela Arsenault, Sponsor
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Education
1:50 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Introduction and walk-through

Rep. Peter Conlon, Chair, House Committee on Education
Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:00 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Mike McRaith, Associate Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
Harris Strokoff, Psychiatrist and Medical Director, NCSS, Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, Green State Psychiatry
Benjamin Clark, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School
Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
Ryan Heraty, Superintendent, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Committee(s):
Senate Committee on Education
2:25 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Oliver Olsen, Representative, Vermont Independent Schools Association
Liza Earle-Centers, Local Parent Advocate, Vermont Coalition of Phone and Social Media-Free Schools
3:50 PM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Committee Discussion

Rep. Angela Arsenault, Sponsor