Ohio

A new bill signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine gives K-12 school districts until 2025 to craft new policies limiting the use of personal devices, and related distractions, in the classroom.

Avon Police visited the Lorain County Commission meeting earlier this month to request access to criminal felony records they cannot access because they're in the county's New World Systems database.

Plus, Nevada gets $250 million for broadband, data unveils the barriers to digital equity for Asian Americans, and the federal government is eyeing 6G.

CIO, Ohio

House Bill 485 would require students to keep electronic devices out of the classroom, with some exceptions, and require schools to adopt policies to govern Internet use and teach students about hazards of social media.

Plus, new legislation aims to increase digital skills training opportunities, two Ohio initiatives aim to increase digital equity, a new grant program for digital services was announced in Colorado, and more.

Info ranges from data-heavy spreadsheets showing complaints made to 311 and the rental registry status of Cleveland homes, to simpler map-based information showing the boundaries of neighborhoods.

STEM leaders from Steubenville, a low-income district in Ohio, told attendees at the National School Boards Association conference on Sunday how they established CTE programs for pilots and drone flying, without breaking the bank.

The new initiative is expected to enhance safety by advancing drone airspace management and navigation. It is designed as a peer-to-peer model for statewide use, and is aimed at avoiding conflicts in shared airspace.

Two identical bills moving through the Ohio legislature would allow an eligible adult to “act in lieu of a driver training instructor while using an authorized electronic device or application.”

The tool is integrated into the state’s job and training hub, and offers users personalized services to connect them with a career path that aligns with their skill set. It follows legislative action by the governor to lessen unemployment numbers.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is planning to fly a large drone over a stretch of highway outside Columbus as part of a pilot traffic surveillance program, after receiving special permission.

The Ohio House introduced legislation this month to outlaw the sharing of artificial media — including videos or audio — that impersonates real people in unflattering or compromising depictions.

A new online resource for Ohio schools, compiled by the state, includes sections for parents, teachers and school districts with sample lessons, discussions about ethics, safety policies and other topics.

As Georgia introduces new legislation to address cyberbullying and regulate teenage social media use, other states with comparative laws are facing staunch legal challenges related to privacy.

Plus, a new fact sheet from the FCC looks at the future of the ACP; California launches a website to track infrastructure investment; the White House puts $80 million toward wireless innovation; and more.

An organization representing the likes of Facebook, X and YouTube has filed a lawsuit over a new requirement that children under age 16 get their parent’s consent to open social media accounts.

On Jan. 15, a new law is scheduled to take effect in Ohio that will compel many other social media platforms to ask for a parent's permission before establishing an account for minors under the age of 16.