Governor Signs Bill to Limit Smartphone Usage in Schools

On Sept. 23, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3216, a new bill that would require all school districts across California to ban or limit student smartphone use on campuses during school hours.

The law, officially referred to as the Phone-Free School Act, is an extension of AB 272, which specifies that school districts have the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours. With the bill’s signing, California will now join a handful of other states across the country that already implement bans or restrictions on phone-usage in schools, including Alabama, Florida, Washington and  Connecticut.

According to a statement from Newsom, AB 3216 would focus on helping students by reducing distractions in the classroom, as well as foster a better learning environment.

“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression and other mental health issues – but we have the power to intervene,” said Newsom in a statement. “This new law will help students focus on academics, social development and  the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school.”

According to a survey from the Pew Research Center, it is found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem. Studies from Common Sense Media also found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes.

 AB 3216 has been officially authored by California State Assemblymembers Josh Hoover, Al Muratsuchi, David Alvarez and  Josh Lowenthal, all of whom believe the new bill will help reduce the risks of phone usage in the classroom.

According to Al Muratsuchi: “I thank the Governor for signing AB 3216. California school districts should place limits on student smartphone use on campus during school hours, unless approved by teachers or administrators for academic, emergency, or other purposes.”

Muratsuchi continued: “In 2019, I authored Assembly Bill 272, to encourage school districts to consider such limits. Since then, growing research shows excessive smartphone use not only interfering with learning but also contributing to teenage anxiety, depression and  cyberbullying. All school districts should develop their own appropriate policy to balance appropriate student use of smartphones at school with curbing the impact of excessive smartphone use on a student’s educational, social and  emotional well-being.”

As AB 3216 takes effect, all California school districts will be required by law to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026. Despite this, parents and educators must also allow California 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.