Colorado schools roll out stricter cellphone bans ahead of state deadline

Andrea Teres-Martinez, KUNC

From locked pouches to bell-to-bell bans, Colorado schools are cracking down on cellphone use in the classroom as districts prepare to comply with a new state law by July 1.

House Bill 1135, also known as the Communication Devices in School bill, was passed in 2025 as an attempt to remove classroom distractions that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was also pitched as a pathway to mitigating negative mental health impacts from excessive screen time and social media use.

Sponsored by Rep. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat, the bill gave school districts until July 1, 2026, to develop and post individual policies on their website regarding cellphone use during school hours, with exemptions for students with disabilities or medical needs.

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