States with Enacted Statewide Cell Phone Bans or Major Restrictions

States with Enacted Statewide Cell Phone Bans or Major Restrictions NuKase is Cell Phone Ban compliant

Complaint with school cell phone bans

States with Pilot Programs, Grant Funding, or Pending Legislation

Major Cities and School Districts with Cell Phone Bans

Summary Table: States with Statewide Bans or Major Restrictions (as of May 2025)

Notable Pending or Proposed Bans

• Illinois: Proposed legislation would require all districts to ban phones during instruction1.
• Texas, Mississippi, Wisconsin: Considering legislation or have introduced bills to restrict or ban cell phones in schools16.
• New Hampshire, Iowa, Nebraska: Governors advocating for statewide bans2.

Implementation Details and Trends

• Many bans require students to keep phones off and stored away during the entire school day, not just during class.
• Some states allow exceptions for medical needs, emergencies, or teacher-sanctioned educational use.
• Funding for phone storage solutions (e.g., locked pouches) is being provided in several states.
• Districts and schools often provide parents with alternative ways to contact students during the day1.

Conclusion

As of May 2025, at least 18 states have enacted laws or policies restricting or banning cell phone use in K-12 schools, with more considering similar measures. Major cities and school districts-including Los Angeles, New York City, and Mesa County-have also implemented or piloted bans. The movement is bipartisan and rapidly evolving, with additional states likely to pass similar restrictions in the near future123567.