(The Center Square) – Restrictions on K-12 students’ use of cellphones is in the Senate’s state budget proposal and in legislation originating in the state House of Representatives that has reached the Senate’s rules committee.

The outcome of negotiations for a budget between the Senate, House of Representatives and Gov. Josh Stein will determine what language, if any, comes forward and from where. The House has yet to release its two-year spending proposal.

And the cellphones in schools issue, if the House vote is an indicator, is agreed upon in General Assembly chambers holding significant Republican majorities.

The Center Square was unsuccessful getting response this week from House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and Senate Rules Committee Chairman Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick. Cell-Phone Free Education, known also as House Bill 87, passed the House 114-3 a day prior to going into the Senate Rules Committee.

The one-page House legislation says in part, “At the beginning of each school year, governing bodies of public school units shall notify parents of all students enrolled in the public school unit of the Cell Phone-Free Education Policy adopted under subsection (a) of this section.”

That subsection says, “Governing bodies of public school units shall adopt a cell phone-free education policy to eliminate or severely restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time.”

In the public instruction section of the Senate budget proposal, the language in part says governing bodies shall establish wireless communication policy, and sans exceptions, shall “prohibit students from using, displaying, or having a wireless communication device turned on during instructional time.”

Exceptions include teachers’ instructing use; as required by a student’s individualized education program; or to manage a student’s health care per documented medical conditions.

(The Center Square) – A bill dubbed the “Dismantle DEI Act” passed the Tennessee House on Thursday, with one Democrat calling it the “White Fragility Act.”

The bill would prevent local governments and higher education institutions from making decisions based on diversity policies.

It easily passed the Republican-dominated House 73-24 along party lines. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure Monday.

Sponsor Rep. Aron Maberry, R-Clarksville, did not speak on the bill Thursday. The bill is sponsored by Majority Leader Jack Johnson in the Senate, who told a committee earlier this month the Lee administration did not bring the bill.

“Diversity is a wonderful thing but diversity for diversity’s sake alone and making diversity the No. 1 priority over merit and over running an effective and efficient state government, I think that is wrong,” Johnson said.

Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, presented an amendment that would have called the bill the “Dismantle Civil Rights Act.” Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, labeled the bill “Another Racist Act.”

The amendments failed, along with one by Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Nashville, who wanted to name the bill the “White Fragility Act.” She said the implication that DEI is affirmative action is wrong

“With diversity, equity and inclusion, we do have some interest in who we recruiting and who we hire, because certainly organizations that serve the entire state of Tennessee or the entire public want their employees to look like that public,” Johnson said. “Why are you all so afraid of making sure that every person of every race, of every religion, disabled, women veterans, why are you doing everything you can to complicate the relationships in the workplace? “

Democrats objected to a call for the vote, saying they wanted more time to debate.

“What happened today wasn’t just a political maneuver – it was a violation of our responsibility to the people of Tennessee,” said House Minority Leader Karen Camper., D-Memphis. “My colleagues and I were prepared to speak on behalf of our constituents, to oppose a bill that undermines fairness and opportunity for all Tennesseans. Instead, we were silenced.”

(The Center Square) – As housing inventories remain low in Illinois, and with an abundance of overall economic uncertainty, a new survey shows a majority of people are concerned about a housing crash.

Clever Real Estate reports that 70% of those asked worry about a housing market crash this year, and one in three are worried they won’t be able to afford their housing payments as a result of the economic climate.

“Tariffs obviously, the federal government changes and cuts, just overall economic uncertainty and people seem pretty scared about what’s going on and for more homeowners, except for Gen-Z and younger homeowners, they all lived through the Great Recession and know what a housing crash looks like,” said researcher Nick Pisano.  

Pisano said the current climate is keeping some would-be homebuyers on the sidelines. 

“We found that about one in four people who planned on buying a home this year are now delaying those plans, specifically about expectations about the economy this year,” said Pisano.

In Illinois, a lack of inventory is dragging on home sales. According to Illinois Realtors, home sales were stagnant in February statewide. In February 2025, statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) of 7,698 homes sold was nearly identical to February 2024. 

The lack of inventory is driving home prices up. The monthly median price of a home of $283,000 in February was 6% higher than a year ago.  

Pisano said the housing market is in better shape than it was during the housing bubble 17 years ago. 

“There is a lot lower risk overall for a system-wide housing crash than in 2008 in the sense that homeowners have a lot more equity, they’re rates tend to be a lot lower,” said Pisano. “A lot of them have them in the threes and fours.”

According to Redfin, the U.S. housing market is showing a significant slowdown with homes taking 47 days to sell in March 2025. That is the longest period in March since 2019. The slowdown is being attributed to sluggish demand and overpricing. 

https://listwithclever.com/research/consumer-sentiment-2025/