Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation to Limit the Use of Smartphones During School Hours

SACRAMENTO — Building on his calls for school districts to restrict the use of smartphones on school campuses, Gov. Gavin Newsom Sept. 23 signed Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, to require every school district, charter school and county office of education to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026. Authored by Assembly Members Josh Hoover, David Alvarez, Josh Lowenthal, and Al Muratsuchi, the bipartisan legislation will support the mental health, academic success, and social wellbeing of California’s students.

In 2019, Gov. Newsom signed AB 272 (Muratsuchi) into law, which specified that school districts have the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours. This legislation was a first step in efforts to minimize distractions and foster a more conducive environment for students to learn. In June, the Governor announced efforts to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day.

The development of the policies will involve stakeholder participation to ensure they are responsive to the unique needs and desires of the local students, parents and educators and must allow students to use their phones in the case of an emergency, or in response to a perceived threat of danger, or as allowed by a teacher, administrator, doctor or the student’s individualized education program. 

Excessive smartphone use among youth is linked to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem. Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes. Combined with the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about the risks of social media, it is urgent to provide reasonable guardrails for smartphone use in schools.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond: “AB 3216 represents an important opportunity to address the mental health of our students by restricting smartphones in schools. I have directly engaged with our students, parents, and educators as we have explored the need for this important change.  I will continue to make sure that we hear the voices of our young people, their families, and our hardworking school staff as we implement smartphone restrictions across the state.”