Limits on Cellphones in Schools Facing Scant Pushback

As of the end of 2025, 36 states and Washington, D.C., had passed legislation on phone policies, according to the Phone-Free Schools Movement, an advocacy group. Earlier this month, a bill in New Jersey was also signed into law (see 2601080017), the Michigan House passed HB-4141 by a vote of 99-10, and the Delaware House adopted SB-106 unanimously after the state Senate passed it in May.

In addition, Mississippi Rep. John Faulkner (D) introduced HB-702, which would require the state's school boards to develop policies restricting students' cellphone possession and use during the school day. In Georgia, six House members introduced HB-1009, which would extend the state's existing ban on personal electronic devices to students in grades nine through 12.

Rhode Island state Rep. Julie Casimiro (D), co-sponsor of a personal electronics ban signed into law there in June, told us it “was probably one of the easiest bills I’ve ever passed.” While she expected some pushback, there was zero opposition in committee hearings, she noted.

The Rhode Island legislation sets an Aug. 1 deadline for every school in the state to establish a policy that restricts students from having access to personal electronics during the school day.

“I think people understand what’s happening to this generation, the anxious generation,” Casimiro said. A former substitute teacher, she said the legislation was inspired by what she saw firsthand and by what she was told by fellow educators. “Kids are in the stairwell doing TikTok videos and not in the classroom learning.”

California Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R) said the relative lack of opposition to the state's cellphone restriction bill, AB-3216, signed into law in 2024, was a bit surprising. "I did expect a little more pushback -- it's a pretty major policy change," he told us. There was some opposition from the California School Boards Association over the mandate aspect, but that was the only formal opposition, said Hoover, who sponsored the legislation. He noted that there was almost unanimous, bipartisan support from the legislature.

The momentum for such legislation has been building, Hoover said. "It's really percolating throughout the country right now. People are going, 'This makes sense.'" Hoover spearheaded a similar policy when he was a school board member before being elected to the Assembly, he added.

The Heritage Foundation’s Jonathan Butcher also said there's bipartisan agreement on limiting phone use in schools, citing support from both California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Butcher, the foundation's Skillman fellow in education, said there’s general concern among families about the impact of social media on their kids, “and rightfully so.” Teachers recognize that it’s difficult to manage a classroom “when students have unlimited access to their phones.”

Tim Pressley, an associate professor of psychology at Christopher Newport University who specializes in teacher effectiveness, told us via email that the main resistance to cellphone restrictions has been from parent groups who see the devices as a way to get in contact with students in case of emergencies.

Children and Screens' Perry told us there had been some speculation that students would speak out and organize against the bans. But anecdotally, it appears that kids "are neutral to pleased with the way their school day is going" with the rules, she said. There hasn't been any organized parent opposition, and teachers unions are frequently supporters. Statewide restrictions are moving toward being the norm, with more expected to be adopted, Perry added.