Rahul Bali
,
Meimei Xu
| WABE
May 12th, 2025
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill into law Friday banning personal electronic devices, like cell phones, during the school day for kindergarten through eighth graders in public schools.
In addition to smartphones, House Bill 340 bans devices like smartwatches, tablets, laptops, headphones and other devices that can transmit information electronically or connect to the Internet. The ban excludes school-issued laptops and other devices, however, as well as personal electronic devices required under a student’s Individualized Education Program, Section 504 plan or medical plan.
Republican State Rep. Scott Hilton, the sponsor of the Distraction-Free Education Act, said this is a “bell-to-bell” ban, meaning that it applies from the beginning to the end of the school day.
“That allows the teachers to get away from being the cell phone police and really allow the students to focus in on their work,” he said.
Bans would start no later than July 1, 2026, or effectively the 2026-2027 school year. Schools and school systems would need to adopt policies by Jan. 1, 2026, for the storage of personal devices, appropriate usage of devices during extracurricular and off-campus activities and communication during emergencies.
Schools and districts would also establish protocols for incidents when a student violates these policies.
Hilton said school districts can choose to implement bans sooner, which could include high school students.
“We hope they do that,” he told WABE. “I believe that’s the right policy position, but the bill gives them plenty of time to have those conversations with parents, teachers, and administrators so that we get it right the first time.”
This law comes during a push across the U.S. to restrict screen time in schools due to concerns over youth mental health and academic focus. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress last year to put warning labels on social media platforms to warn users of mental health risks associated with usage.
Several other states, such as Indiana and Louisiana, have passed cell phone bans, and others have implemented or are in the process of implementing similar limitations on cell phone usage in schools.
“We’re excited to see and grateful for the governor signing this legislation,” Hilton said. “We’ve seen this work in other states and it’s gonna have an incredible impact on our students, our parents and teachers, just really allowing them to flourish while in school, free from distraction.”
