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.