North Carolina House lawmakers moved a bill through committee on Tuesday aimed at curbing student cell phone use during classroom instruction time.

The House version, House Bill 87, is companion to a similar Senate version introduced in early February. The bill directs “governing bodies of public school units” to “adopt a cell phone-free education policy to eliminate or severely restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time.”

“How that works out is up to the school. We’re not saying you have to do that a certain way,” said the measure’s primary sponsor, Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Moore. “So, we’re not saying there is one size-fits-all. We’re saying local control is the best control.”

“When we polled schools and school board members that are using [cell-phone-free policies] now, they said the outcome student and teachers was amazing, how much better everything was, and we just want the best outcome and make our classrooms a safe place,” said Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph, another sponsor of the measure.

The bill does not apply to remote charters or academies. Seventy-seven school districts already have policies on cell-phone use in classrooms, according to the bill summary.

Tiffany Gladney, senior director of policy and government relations for NC Child, also spoke in favor of the bill. “While this legislation will not completely solve the youth mental health crisis, it is a great first step,” she said.

Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, questioned the bill for its potential to limit parents’ contact with their child in schools. “I think the idea behind this bill is really good, and if I were a teacher, I would really like it … When I have gotten some emails from constituents, it’s been the parents. They are worried about being in touch with their child, especially if it’s an emergency, if it’s an active shooter, they want to be in touch with their kids.”

“The last thing that we want kids doing, at that point if there is an emergency going on, is fiddling with their phone,” responded Rep. David Willis, R-Union. “They need to be following instructions, whatever it may be — whether it’s weather related or shooter related.”

The measure passed the House K-12 Education Committee in a voice vote and next heads to the House Judiciary Committee.