As of 2025, at least 26 states have passed laws banning or restricting the use of cell phones in schools, with additional states implementing rules or considering legislation. The states with active laws or executive orders banning or restricting cell phones in schools include:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Other states have laws that limit cell phone use in classrooms:
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Ohio
Pending legislation to ban cell phones in schools is in progress in:
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
The only states without any policies on cell phone use in schools are Mississippi and Wyoming. Notable details:
- New York implemented a "bell to bell" cell phone ban covering the entire school day starting in fall 2025.
- Georgia bans phones for students in grades K-8, effective July 2026.
- Nebraska banned phones throughout the school day as of May 2025.
- Washington, D.C. has a similar full-day ban.
- Oklahoma enacted a year-long bell-to-bell ban for the 2025-26 school year.
These laws cite concerns about mental health, classroom distractions, and student safety as main reasons for the bans. Many states give some exceptions for emergencies or medical needs. This summary reflects the current landscape of school cell phone bans in the U.S. for 2025.
