State Sen. Matt Brass discussed education, healthcare and growth during a visit to the White Oak Golden Kiwanis Club on Thursday. The Newnan Republican highlighted new restrictions on student cellphone use, homeowners association reforms, a statewide literacy initiative, Medicaid policy and the debate over data centers. Brass said he evaluates legislation by considering its effect on three generations: older Georgians, working families and children. Nearly three-quarters of Georgia's almost $39 billion budget is devoted to education and healthcare, Brass said, calling those investments critical to all three generations. School cellphone ban expands to high schools Brass said one of the most significant education measures approved this year expands Georgia's cellphone restrictions from middle schools to high schools. Lawmakers acted after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from educators following the middle school ban approved two years ago, he said. According to Brass, teachers and administrators reported students were more engaged in class, spent more time interacting with one another and experienced fewer problems related to cyberbullying. "We wanted to get away from that," Brass said, referring to online harassment among students. "We wanted to make sure this next generation isn't living here," he said while gesturing toward a cellphone, "and they're living more here with that face-to-face interaction." Brass joked that his own son, who started eighth grade…
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