The Senate Education Committee on Monday heard a series of bills aimed at improving access and support for students struggling with mental health issues, including a landmark bill to tackle the growing problem of social media use and youth mental health.  

“We can no longer pretend this is anything less than a crisis unfolding before our eyes,” said Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes), chairman of the committee. “There is overwhelming evidence showing a strong correlation between the increased use of technology and screen time and worsening mental health struggles. These problems have become even more acute during the pandemic. We have to take action now or we could lose an entire generation of students.”

• S.F. 1012 provides funding to the organization Live More, Screen Less to address the effects of screen time overuse and misuse on student mental health.  

• S.F. 627 improves Minnesota’s safe schools levy to allow school districts to use funds for student mental health and telemedicine. The bill also refines the program to treat public, nonpublic, and American Indian schools equally.

• S.F. 925 makes counseling services available in an equitable manner at nonpublic schools to improve students’ personal and social development.

• S.F. 237 prevents child care centers from using screens as a substitute for interaction with an instructor. IPads and other educational digital education tools would be acceptable, but teachers must provide hands-on instruction and social interaction as well.