New Mexico State Senator Crystal Brantley said that the passage of Senate Bill 11 will address the negative impact unrestricted cellphone use has on students. Brantley shared her statement in a March 3 press release.
"Parents and teachers everywhere understand why this bill is necessary," said Brantley. "This policy is a hand up to teachers who have been asked to take on innumerable roles in addition to teaching. Our teachers don't want to be the phone police; this policy asks for districts to implement a definitive."
According to the New Mexico Legislature, Senate Bill 11, titled "Anti-Distraction Policy in Schools," aims to enhance academic success and positive social development among students by defining and promoting anti-distraction policies within public schools. The bill proposes allocating $10 million to the New Mexico Public Education Department to encourage schools to discourage phone use. As of March 1, 2025, the bill passed the Senate with a 29-8 vote and is currently under consideration in the House Education Committee.
According to K-12Dive, 97% of students aged 11 to 17 use their phones during the school day, with a median in-school screen time of 43 minutes. The most common activities include social media (32%), YouTube (26%), and gaming (17%). The study also revealed that TikTok is the most frequently used app, with users spending a median of 1 hour and 52 minutes on the platform each day.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2023 found that 72% of U.S. high school teachers consider cellphone distractions a major issue in their classrooms. In contrast, only 33% of middle school teachers and 6% of elementary school teachers reported the same concern. While 82% of K-12 schools have some form of cellphone policy, enforcing these rules remains a challenge, particularly for high schools, where 60% of teachers say enforcement is difficult.
According to her website, Brantley is the first Republican and first woman elected to represent New Mexico’s Senate District 35. She serves on the Senate Finance Committee and the Republican State Leadership Committee and has worked on conservation efforts, law enforcement support, and small business protection.
