BISMARCK — Public school students statewide would face limits on cellphone use under a bill being considered by the North Dakota Legislature. House Bill 1160 is sponsored by Rep. Jim Jonas, a Republican from West Fargo.

A growing number of states are considering legislation to ban or restrict cellphones in schools, part of an effort to remove classroom distractions for students.

Now in his final year in office, Gov. Phil Murphy used his State of the State address Tuesday to call for a ban on cellphones in the classroom, an idea that has gained national attention to improve students’ concentration and mental health.

Over the last two decades, cell phones have become more common in schools. Challenging administrators to come up with plans to maintain focus on instruction and not what's happening on social media. Insert a bipartisan bill to create a pilot program to limit phone use during the school day.