By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – It appears that cell phone use in schools is about to be limited or entirely curtailed in New Hampshire classrooms.

In another bipartisan move that could be considered the third win for the newly elected governor and her priorities, the House Finance Committee has unanimously recommended passage of House Bill 131 which requires school boards to develop cell phone policies for classrooms.

The other wins include funding the Group II retirement plan which is being recommended by  House Finance and her bipartisan win on bail reform, two weeks ago with a unanimous Senate vote.

The cell phone in schools bill is similar to one that has passed in other states.

A fiscal note with $1 million attached to the bill has been removed. It was originally placed there to provide funding for school districts to purchase cell phone storage products but now there is no money attached to the measure.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte first announced her hopes to ditch the distracting phones when she gave her inauguration address, and that came only hours after Republican Senators lined up behind the idea when they laid out their priorities for this session.

While the bill will still need to get through the Senate if it passes the whole House, it is likely to have few headwinds, particularly now that there is no money attached to the bill.

The bill would Amend RSA 189:1-a by inserting that “school boards shall develop and adopt a policy governing student cell phone use in schools. Such policy shall restrict the use of student personal cell phones during class instruction without educator approval. Districts are encouraged to consider exceptions to student use during instruction when an educator is using devices as part of a lesson plan.  School district policies shall not prohibit students with disabilities from using a device to support their learning as identified by their individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan.”

The bill, if made law, will take effect 60 days after its passage.