MASON, Mich. — A new bill in the Michigan State House would impose a 32% tax on smartphones purchased for children under 18, sparking debate among parents about government involvement in family technology decisions.
- Michigan bill would tax smartphones bought for kids under 18, with revenue going to children's mental health fund.
- Tax applies to internet-enabled phones with apps, while basic call-only phones remain exempt.
- Parents argue technology decisions should stay within families, not become state responsibility.
House Bill 5496, introduced last week by four House Republicans, would tax wireless devices bought for kids starting January 1. The legislation only applies to smart devices with internet and apps, while basic phones that only make calls would be exempt.
WATCH BELOW: Michigan lawmakers propose 32% tax on smartphones bought for children
Jon Droscha, a father of two, questions how such a tax would be enforced and whether it's necessary.
"How do you enforce that? 32%, that's a lot. You're talking about a thousand dollar phone, that's a $320 tax," Droscha said.
Droscha gave his daughters their first smartphones when they were 12 years old as a safety measure.
"To stay in touch with them. If after school saying mom, dad, I missed the bus," he said.
He believes most parents make similar decisions for safety reasons, including using tracking apps to monitor their children's locations.
In the bill, all revenue from the proposed tax would go to a new children's mental health and safety fund.
Last month, a bill to ban smartphones in classrooms was approved by both the House and Senate.
"The state had to come in and say we are going to create a uniform standard and all school districts must enact something to stop these kids from using their phones in the classroom," Matt Hall said.
However, Droscha believes the classroom ban was sufficient and questions why additional measures are needed.
"Why isn't that enough?" he said.
He thinks decisions about children's technology use should remain with families rather than the state.
"I believe it's a parent's decision to limit screen time for students, not the state's responsibility," Droscha said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Want more FOX 47 News? Here's how you download our Roku app
You can also see the latest news from across our mid-Michigan neighborhoods by liking us on Facebook or following us on X.
