Prefiled bill aims to address screen time for kids

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - An Alabama state lawmaker has prefiled a bill that aims to take a closer look at the use of screens in learning for the state’s youngest students.

The bill would call on a number of Alabama’s state departments to set and implement screen time guidelines for children in daycares, pre-Ks and kindergartens.

“What happens to a child in those first years matters for a lifetime,” said Rep. Jeana Ross (R-Guntersville).

Rep. Ross is a retired educator, and she said her House Bill 78 is about setting a statewide standard for what is an appropriate use of screen time for kids who are in the midst of their brain development.

“This is not about restrictions or bans; it’s about awareness and even teachers. They want to do and teach the best way, in what’s best for children,” she said.

The bill calls on the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education to set these guidelines, dependent on the age of the child. The bill also said the guidelines would need to be made available to parents and guardians.

“It’s all about providing other opportunities and other things that children can do that will be more meaningful in their learning,” said Rep. Ross.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, screen time for children under two years old should be avoided at all costs; for children two to five years old, it should be limited to an hour per weekday. The CDC recommends introducing educational content for up to 30 minutes per day with supervision.

“Our economy, our workforce, everything hinges on what happens to that child in those first five years,” said Rep. Ross. “By working together, we’re gonna create a stronger way of making sure that the screens are applied or used appropriately for each age group.”

If it passes, the bill would take effect at the beginning of 2027.

So far, lawmakers have filed more than 130 bills between the two chambers ahead of the legislative session, which starts Jan. 13.

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