A Republican-backed bill to restrict cell phone use in Michigan classrooms failed in the state House after receiving only 53 of the 56 votes needed to pass. Every “yes” vote came from a Republican, while Democrats—despite prior statements of support—voted against it or were absent.
Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills), sponsor of House Bill 4141, blamed politics. “We had an agreement with the Senate Democrats and the governor. House Democrats said no,” he said.
Democratic Rep. Noah Arbit had previously endorsed the legislation on Fox 2 Detroit, calling it “good legislation,” but voted no. The bill had included input from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and made concessions for medically necessary devices and basic phones.
Gov. Whitmer expressed support for limiting phones in schools during her 2025 State of the State address, calling for “bipartisan legislation to limit the use of phones in class.”
A Pew Research survey in June found that 74% of adults support banning phones in middle and high school classrooms, but Michigan Democrats’ opposition blocked the proposal.
Tisdel pledged to rework and reintroduce the bill next session, saying, “We’re not going to water the bill down. We played nice, and they played games.”
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