Exclusive: Bennet wants state ban on cellphones in Colorado classrooms

State of play: Right now, some Colorado school districts and individual schools have their own cellphone policies, while others are silent on the issue.

• A state new law signed earlier this year requires districts to create a formal policy by 2026.

The latest: Bennet's policy would end the patchwork and create a statewide mandate with exceptions for students with disabilities, as well as those who need it for learning and medical purposes.

• Bennet, the former Denver Public Schools superintendent, called the ban a "simple, common-sense step" to improve the mental health of students and reduce disruptions in learning environments.

What he's saying: "Across Colorado, I hear the same concerns from parents, teachers, mental health professionals, and kids themselves: we're facing a mental health crisis and social media and AI are making it worse," Bennet said in a statement.

The big picture: Bennet's five-point platform also calls for guardrails on artificial intelligence chatbots, more parental controls and requirements for warning labels on social media sites — mandates that are similar to existing law.

The intrigue: In outlining a plan, Bennet is steering in the same direction as his top rival in the Democratic primary for governor, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.

• Weiser has made student mental health a key priority of his tenure and pushed legislation at the state Capitol to address the harms of social media and AI.