Away For The Day | Latest News - New legislation proposes smartphone ban in all California schools

A statewide ban on students using cellphones in school could come as early as next summer under newly proposed legislation that would replace a more flexible mandate signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024.

The bipartisan bill, AB 1644, introduced this week, would require all TK-12 public schools and charter schools to adopt “bell-to-bell” policies prohibiting student smartphone use from the first bell in the morning until the final bell at the end of the day. Exceptions would be made for safety, health and educational purposes, including teacher permission.

The bill was authored by Assemblymembers Josh Hoover, a Republican representing Folsom; Al Muratsuchi, a Democrat representing Torrance; Josh Lowenthal, a Democrat representing Long Beach; and Buffy Wicks, a Democrat representing Oakland.

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