[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6250504,"mediaKeyId","3200376-938f3891695fd45cde0ab468d474b2b5","parentId",3200376,"title","Senate advances four bills on final passage with unanimous votes","audioSeconds",88,"startMs",3927000,"endMs",4015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200376-938f3891695fd45cde0ab468d474b2b5&start=3927&end=4015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200376-938f3891695fd45cde0ab468d474b2b5/thumbnail_3927000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250504/Michigan/Senate-advances-four-bills-on-final-passage-with-unanimous-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250504-04c1abde16c8c93595a14e0db5ac4bdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770816866&Signature=mxRsmR1WuZj7XdYUVELbS2enERAv6r-3Qs2-aGkjTj78U3K9c32VA6I-Kg8Z~ek2~OC-29YtLFU5Y53iCgxJA4JA-~iqDPJDzeqB7Wi5H6YR5R7ynrBZ~da7KM7dB1ibp1zzYM6RHW2yYIVp6mUx8bk-1Xe5CufLDDPitv-2e9pO4hnmvqrQ2q~Ant-LiPuhDgQE47svVjWwcGl2vUncZvBWPDFs9bRsXj-1V~MZIEq944kEGOiNnKySjBdbo2egemjCIIuFAaatnbXAC5xEi1yerrDr4BeWnR6hooVT63a0VJfhdZl49yR8MA0MuUWqRBT1riBaRI26ecctGB9hUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan State Legislature","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Michigan Senate took final passage votes on a slate of bills addressing election law and local-government statutes during its May 2025 floor session and approved them without floor debate.

Senate Bill 240, a bill to amend Michigan election law, was read for final passage and passed with 37 aye, 0 no votes, and 0 excused. Senate Bill 241 (to amend the Home Rule Village Act), Senate Bill 242 (to amend the General Law Village Act) and Senate Bill 243 (to amend the Home Rule City Act) were each considered read and passed by voice or recorded unanimous votes; the secretary announced 37 aye, 0 no, and 0 excused for those items as recorded in the floor transcript.

Chamber leaders handled the items under the order of third reading and the majority floor leader moved that the items be considered. The clerk/secretary opened and closed the board for recorded votes and announced the tallies. Floor remarks indicate there were no amendments pending to the final passage of these bills and no extended debate on the floor.

The transcript records referral and committee action for other introduced bills earlier in the day, but these four items reached final passage during the session and were approved by the full Senate as recorded. The floor record does not specify subsequent enrollment steps or the governor's action for these bills.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session 25-05-06","oneSentenceSummary","The Michigan Senate gave final passage to four bills amending election and local government law on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; the items were considered and passed without floor debate.","taxTitle","2025 Senate Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",78718,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6250510,"Senate approves bill requiring school districts to adopt cell-phone policies after debate",416,4208000,4624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200376-938f3891695fd45cde0ab468d474b2b5&start=4208&end=4624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200376-938f3891695fd45cde0ab468d474b2b5/thumbnail_4208000.jpg","/articles/6250510/Michigan/Senate-approves-bill-requiring-school-districts-to-adopt-cell-phone-policies-after-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250510-43b1404204d4250644deddeb6c23030e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770816866&Signature=NKsnDxoTvU35qYhjPtSJszc4w451qAFnKYYVyug3PJlrx77TDgqPBqTh5cXzNXRWFY4-l-071kIMo1~nbvEuo-znmKLUtasVl7RMNCp3QeWjf~pGELc0Ig7hHJMvLsfq3ISO83Q5hGI7Q7oSM7czblpagI5pJucAIvsdrVKdGkEa19y2jNlhiCWMm8Io6zUHiFvmn3wIa6p5np83G08g6YtFvehThQBQYVY-STkivg1U1-rHjeURY3NOGQbzbLAgSBQ9cebDXPpcZaMHeQsF0iF095iuJ6XQGDSYz5x2cY1~utPBf-bk9Oqvl8dQwWqo41jhlVici2Le1UPjzHnq3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 234 on final passage during its floor session in May 2025. The bill would require every public school district to implement a written cell-phone policy for each school building beginning in the 2025–26 school year, aim to limit cell-phone use during school hours and reduce classroom distractions, and require districts to post each building's policy on the district website.

Senator Pol Hanke, sponsor of the bill, told the chamber the measure builds flexibility into local plans while requiring districts to address student cell-phone use. \"If passed, my bill, Senate Bill 234, would require all public school districts in Michigan to implement cell phone policies with the goal of reducing student cell phone use and distractions in classroom settings,\" Hanke said. He added the bill includes exceptions for emergencies, medical use and devices included in a student's IEP or 504 plan, and allows further school-level exceptions at a school's discretion.

The bill drew opposition from Senate members who said it does not go far enough. Senator Sylvia Theis said she supports the goal but not the bill's approach: \"I believe this is too permissive, and I don't see anything in law that would currently prohibit our schools from doing what's already being requested in this bill.\" Senator James Altman, citing conversations with county superintendents, said district policies already exist but are often weak, and those superintendents told him they would prefer a stronger statewide rule and said they favored a competing House plan.

An amendment offered by Senator Albert (Amendment No. 1) failed on the floor when only eight senators voted in favor; the clerk declared the number insufficient and the amendment was not adopted. On final passage the Senate recorded 28 aye votes and 9 no votes, and the bill was passed.

The transcript shows proponents cited an interstate trend — \"as of this month, at least 25 states have school cell phone laws or policies\" — while opponents urged a more prescriptive statewide rule. The bill's text would amend the Revised School Code; further procedural steps toward enactment (enrollment, governor's approval) were not specified in the floor record.","The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 234, which would require every public school building in the state to adopt and post cell-phone policies beginning in the 2025–26 school year; opponents said the bill is too permissive and urged support for a stronger House plan.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate advances four bills on final passage with unanimous votes

Senate approves bill requiring school districts to adopt cell-phone policies after debate