New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a proposal banning cell phone use during school hours for students. The measure is part of a $254 billion budget for the year 2026, when the ban will go into effect.
The proposal specifically prohibits “unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.”
According to The Gothamist, “Individual public school districts will be directed to formulate policies on how devices are stored during the day beginning in September and the state will offer some funding to develop their plans.”
This budget also includes sending “rebate checks to middle-class families,” and loosening “evidence-sharing expectations for prosecutors in criminal cases.” Additionally, individuals who wear masks while committing a crime will face a new charge.
The proposal for a bell-to-bell ban was first introduced in January.
Proud of the cell phone ban and what it aims to achieve, Hochul seeks to protect students from distractions and increase their attention spans and mental health in general. The governor said she “consulted parents, students, educators, school administrators, local leaders, and advocates” to create a solution posed by the reported consequences of cell phones in schools.
“Protecting our communities requires more than streets where people feel safe,” Hochul said. “We need classrooms where young minds can flourish, and that means eliminating once and for all the digital distractions that steal our kids’ attention. We protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol and drunk driving, and now, we’re protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention.”
The budget proposal was billions of dollars more than what was initially established, raising concerns among some lawmakers about the potential impact of Trump administration’s tariffs effects on New York’s economy
New York lawmakers, who appear to be generally in agreement, are expected to vote on the budget and its proposals this week.
