Does South Dakota Ban Phones in School? (2026 Status)
South Dakota has no statewide school phone law. SB 198, which would have restricted student cell phone use during the school day, passed the Senate 19–15 but the House rejected it 28–39 on March 5, 2026; phone rules remain a local-board decision.
State lawsBy Brian Ohebshalom and Noah Fakheri, LockedIn’s co-founders
3 min read
South Dakota school cell phone bill: key facts
Bill failed (2026)- Statute or action
- SB 198 (2026, defeated in House)
- Enforcement
- Local-board control
- Bill: SB 198: passed the Senate 19–15 on Feb. 17, 2026; rejected by the House 28–39 on March 5, 2026
- Committee version barred student cell phone use during the school day, with exceptions for medical or educational accommodations and emergencies
- House Education Committee voted 8–7 to defer it on March 2; a smoke-out vote brought it to the floor
- Gov. Larry Rhoden said the decision is best left to local school boards
- Rep. Mike Stevens said more than 90% of districts have or are working toward a phone policy
Funding: Phone-free school grants and paste-ready application language.
Primary source: SB 198 (2026, defeated in House)(opens in a new tab). Last verified . Not legal advice: confirm with your counsel.
No. South Dakota has no statewide school phone law. SB 198, which would have restricted student cell phone use during the school day, passed the Senate 19–15 but the House rejected it 28–39 on March 5, 2026; phone rules remain a local-board decision. As of October 27, 2026, it is one of 6 states without a statewide requirement.
Where South Dakota stands
- • None at the state level. Each local school board sets its own student phone policy.
The emergency wording for every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico is in school phone ban emergency exceptions by state.
Timeline
- SB 198 introduced in the Senate (Sen. Chris Karr, Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt)
- Senate Education Committee sends it to the floor without recommendation, 5–2
- Senate passes SB 198 as amended, 19–15
- House Education Committee defers it to the 41st legislative day, 8–7
- House recalls the bill from committee (smoke-out)
- House rejects SB 198, 28–39
Storage rules
South Dakota has no statewide rule on where student phones are kept; each school board decides.
Some schools back a written policy with phone-management software such as LockedIn: students' own phones lock automatically on campus during school hours and unlock after school, with no pouches or hardware; the admin dashboard flags workarounds by student name, such as a possible uninstall or a new device awaiting approval; and in an emergency, one tap from an administrator starts Emergency Mode on every phone on campus. Software does not replace a written board policy; have counsel review any tool that handles student device data.
Checklist for South Dakota administrators
- Review your board policy on your own schedule; no state deadline or minimum standard applies.
- Decide locally whether to restrict phones during class or for the full school day.
- Watch the 2027 legislative session for a renewed statewide bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Dakota one of the states without a school phone ban?
Yes. As of October 27, 2026, South Dakota is one of 6 states with no statewide law or order requiring public schools to restrict student phones. South Dakota has no statewide school phone law. SB 198, which would have restricted student cell phone use during the school day, passed the Senate 19–15 but the House rejected it 28–39 on March 5, 2026; phone rules remain a local-board decision.
Does South Dakota have a law banning phones in school?
No. SB 198 would have restricted student cell phone use during the school day, but the House rejected it 28–39 on March 5, 2026. Phone rules are set by each local school board.
Is it illegal to have your phone in school in South Dakota?
No. There is no state law on student phone use at school; your district's policy sets the rules and consequences.
Why did South Dakota's school phone ban fail?
The House voted it down 28–39 after its Education Committee had voted 8–7 to defer it. Gov. Larry Rhoden said the decision is best left to local school boards, and Rep. Mike Stevens said more than 90% of districts have or are working toward a policy (Dakota News Now).
What did SB 198 propose?
As amended in the Senate Education Committee, it said a student may not use a cell phone during the school day, with exceptions for approved medical or educational accommodations and emergencies, and required each board to set disciplinary actions.
Sources for South Dakota
Phone rules change with new bills, administrative rules and local board policy. Checked against these sources on . Not legal advice: confirm with counsel before you adopt policy language.
- SB 198 (2026, defeated in House): bill record(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- Dakota News Now, March 6, 2026: House votes down SB 198(opens in a new tab)
- South Dakota Legislature(opens in a new tab)Statutes and session bills
- South Dakota Department of Education(opens in a new tab)State K–12 education agency
Compare every state: which states ban phones in school, or find your state’s education agency through the U.S. Department of Education’s state contacts.