Bill to Limit Cell Phone Usage During School Hours Signed By Governor Gavin Newsom

A bill to require all California public schools to come up with policies to either ban or limit smartphone usage during the school day was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday.

Assembly Bill 3216, authored by Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), will specifically require the governing body of a school district, a county office of education, or a charter school to, by July 1, 2026, develop and adopt, and to update every 5 years, a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a school site or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school.

The bill, also known as the Phone-Free Schools Act, comes in the wake of both local school district smartphone bans across the state, as well as growing state and federal worries over student usage of smartphones during school hours. For years, cell/smart phones in schools have been a growing issue. While some districts have allowed cell phones to be allowed in school as long as they are turned off and not being used during class in case of emergencies or needed communication with parents, a growing number have been  putting in bans due to the number of problems that cell phones, specifically smart phones, bring. This includes cell phones being a major distraction, the phones being used to cheat, mental health issues associated with social media, poor school performance, and the safety issue being boomeranged around back at being negative because of cyberbullying and other similar issues. 72% of all high school teachers in the country have even called cell phones being used in class a major problem in the class room.

As a result many states and districts have instituted school hour bans on using cell phones. Currently, 3 states have passed statewide bans of some sort, with more than a dozen others currently considering such bans. In addition, nearly 80% of school districts have some sort of ban or limitations of cell phone usage in place. Since the bill was introduced earlier this year, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued warnings about smartphone usage causing negative mental health effects on teenagers, Governor Gavin Newsom has pushed for a statewide restriction on cell phone usage by students during the day, and many school districts, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, have instituted bans on the phones to be in place in the next few years.

With so much support, and the only Californians opposing the ban coming from teenage students, the bill quickly sailed through both the Senate and Assembly with rare near-unanimous votes. Last month, it passed 38-1 in the Senate and 77-0 in the Assembly. Having vowed to push for restrictions before, Newsom was widely expected to sign the bill into law this month. And on Monday, he did so.

“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues – but we have the power to intervene,” said Newsom on Monday 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.”

Excessive smartphone use among youth is linked to increased anxiety, depression & other mental health issues – but we have the power to intervene.

New legislation will limit the use of smartphones in classrooms without infringing on student safety. pic.twitter.com/Oly74HLN80

— California Governor (@CAgovernor) September 23, 2024

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also noted that “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.”

Both Democrats and Republicans praised the signing of the bill as well. Many Republicans even gave Newsom rare kudos for signing the bill. This included Assemblyman Hoover who said that “Very grateful to announce that Governor Newsom has signed the Phone Free Schools Act into law, my bipartisan legislation to protect kids from the harms of smartphone use during the school day.

“I appreciate the leadership of Governor Newsom and our bipartisan coalition of legislators that worked together to make the Phone-Free Schools Act a reality. AB 3216 is a major victory for protecting and improving the mental health and academic outcomes of students across California. Research continues to demonstrate the potential harms of smartphone use among children. The growing use of these devices in a child’s everyday life can contribute to lower test scores, anxiety, depression, and even suicide. I am proud our state is taking action to limit the use of smartphones during the school day and protect kids from these harms.”

Very grateful to announce that Governor Newsom has signed the #PhoneFreeSchoolsAct into law, my bipartisan legislation to protect kids from the harms of smartphone use during the school day. pic.twitter.com/Ms4IhleM0z

— Josh Hoover (@joshua_hoover) September 23, 2024

In Sacramento, amidst a session of controversial bills, surprising vetoes, and bills still being up for grabs, the signing of AB 3216 was a moment of calm for many.

“I always like important bills where everyone puts politics aside and focuses just on the issue and how to best deal with it. Today a bipartisan solution, one which neither side really hates or compromised all too much on passed,” said “Dana”, a Capitol staffer, to the Globe. “This has been an exhausting session, but having a bill being watched like this be approved of and signed by everyone like this, you know it’s a problem and we put in a solution. Beautiful.

“And now comes the next week.”

Governor Newsom is expected to continue signing and vetoing bills through September 30th.