SB 79

County Boards of Education - Student Technology Use Policy - Requirements

Sponsor: Joanne C. Benson (District 24)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Primary and Secondary EducationStatus: Hearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a county board of education to develop and adopt a policy on the use of personal electronic devices during school hours; requiring the policy to restrict or limit the use of personal electronic devices by students during school hours, except for any purpose documented in the student's education program or Section 504 plan, to monitor or address a student's health issue, or for certain educational purposes; requiring the policy to be published on the county board's website and in student handbooks; etc.

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Testimony (31)

MGA witness list

FAV 13FavorableFWA 8Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 4Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Mayer, Robertlobbyist	KABOOM!	Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind	Written (PDF)
FAV	Diallo, Omar	Office of Senator Joanne C. Benson	Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Leichman, Erin	Saint Joseph University	Position only
FAV	Afolabi, Oluwatosin	Senator Joanne Benson	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Butkiewicz, Michael	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Benson, Senator Bensonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
UNF	Wilson, Grace	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sterrette, Dawana	Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners	Written (PDF)
UNF	Goff, Jessicalobbyist	Maryland Association of Boards of Education	Written (PDF)
UNF	Ursprung, Patricia	Montgomery County Board of Education	Written (PDF)
UNF	Andrione, William	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Fannon, Mary Patlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cross, Dr Cashenna A	Councilwoman At-Large, Glenarden	Oral
FWA	Tao, Betsy	MCCPTA & Distraction Free Schools Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Lamb, Laurenlobbyist	Maryland State Education Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Baines, Alicia	N/A	Written (PDF)
FWA	Barnes, O’Marie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Lerner, Alana	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Takash, Olivia	Individual	Oral
FWA	Unger, Lindsay	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
INFO	Barnes, Andrea	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Kolp, Ande	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Anne Arundel County Public SchoolsUNF 1

Baltimore City Board of School CommissionersUNF 1

Councilwoman At-Large, GlenardenFWA 1

KABOOM!FAV 1

Maryland Association of Boards of EducationUNF 1

Maryland State Department of EducationINFO 1

Maryland State Education AssociationFWA 1

MCCPTA & Distraction Free Schools MarylandFWA 1

Montgomery County Board of EducationUNF 1

N/AFWA 1

NASW MarylandFAV 1

National Federation of the BlindFAV 1

Office of Senator Joanne C. BensonFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

Saint Joseph UniversityFAV 1

Senator Joanne BensonFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMayer, RobertKABOOM!Registered for: KABOOM!

FAVCollins, JocelynPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Bard College; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; HealthCare Access Maryland…

UNFGoff, JessicaMaryland Association of Boards of EducationRegistered for: Maryland Association of Boards of Education

UNFFannon, Mary PatRegistered for: Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland

FWALamb, LaurenMaryland State Education AssociationRegistered for: Maryland State Education Association

INFOKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…