California Gov Gavin Newsom Signs Law Limiting Cell Phone Use in Schools
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation requiring schools to limit or prohibit student cell phone use during the school day. The law, which has received bipartisan support, was signed on Monday and aims to reduce the impact of smartphones on students’ mental health.
“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues – but we have the power to intervene,” Newsom explained in a statement. “This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school.”
Starting July 1, 2026, school districts, including charter schools, must implement policies limiting or prohibiting cell phone use during school hours under the Phone-Free School Act. These policies will also be required to undergo updates every five years, according to Fox News.
Newsom has been vocal about such initiatives in the past. In 2019 he signed legislation that allows school districts to have the authority to regulate cell phone usage by students during the school day.
The governor also sent a letter last month to school districts throughout the state urging them to adopt similar restrictions. He emphasized that classrooms should be a “place of focus, learning, and growth,” free from distractions caused by phones and social media.
With this new legislation, California joins a number of other states that have adopted similar policies. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed an executive order promoting “cellphone-free education” in public schools, addressing what he referred to as the “alarming mental health crisis and chronic health conditions affecting adolescents.”
