Plans for a conference committee to consider the “bell-to-bell” classroom cellphone ban backed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte (SB 206) were set aside Thursday when the language landed in the state legislature’s final budget deal.
“We have dealt with it and the bill is now part of the House (budget) bill,” Sen. Ruth Ward (R-Stoddard) confirmed during a Thursday afternoon conference committee hearing. “So there’s really no need for us to discuss this any further.”
The amendment to insert SB 206 into the budget trailer was submitted by Senate President Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), according to state Sen. Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead).
The idea of a classroom cellphone ban is popular among legislators and, according to national polls, also among parents and teachers. Legislation enacting a ban easily passed both chambers of the New Hampshire legislature.
The sticking point is mandating a statewide “bell-to-bell” ban — no phones during the school day — as opposed to allowing local districts to craft their own bans. Ayotte has made her support for the bell-to-bell ban clear, and she’s referenced the work of prominent social scientists like Jonathan Haidt to make her case.
Ayotte got her wish with the language in the budget crafted by the budget Committee of Conference on Thursday. The final version also includes exceptions for students with disabilities and “language proficiency needs.”
“Regardless of what some people say, it is in the budget,” Birdsell said.
The question now is whether that’s enough to get Ayotte to set aside her pledge to veto the committee’s version of the budget.
Unlikely, several State House sources told NHJournal.
“The Senate has killed the cellphone bill,” one told NHJournal.
Another said the issue isn’t nearly as important to Ayotte as a deal on Group II retirement.
“Kelly wants the bell-to-bell ban, but she’s demanding the Group II retirement.”
Several legislators and lobbyists used the cellphone ban in their conversations with NHJournal to argue that Ayotte’s veto threat makes no sense.
“Budgets are about priorities, compromise, and living within your means,” one longtime political observer said. “That’s why I think this budget will pass. They (the committee) did a good job of balancing. It’s hard to believe Gov. Ayotte will walk away.”
However, according to Ayotte, the budget deal is already DOA.
And many of her fellow Republicans are confused.
“This budget has everything from the full repeal of auto inspections, maternal health policies, healthcare programs, $120 million for Group II first responders, the bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools, and a massive increase in charitable gaming revenue via VLTs,” one House Republican said on background. “With a little bit of something for everyone, it’s hard to see a coalition of the House failing to pass this budget.”
