Gov. Newsom signs bill requiring schools to restrict, prohibit student cell phone use

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a bill that requires school districts to adopt policies restricting or prohibiting students’ use of smartphones during the school day.

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

Assembly Bill 3216 received bipartisan support from lawmakers during the recent legislative session. In the summer, Newsom announced that he wanted to work with lawmakers to restrict students’ use of smartphones at school.

Now that the governor has signed the bill, school districts statewide have until July 2026 to develop and adopt a smartphone usage restriction policy for students. The new law also states that the policy must be updated every five years.

Newsom signed similar legislation in 2019, specifically stating that school districts have the authority to regulate the use of smartphones during school hours.

Some school districts, like Los Angeles Unified , already have similar policies in place after voting to ban cellphone use during the school day in June.

The statewide proposal also received some opposition from the California School Boards Association and support from the California Teachers Association and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond.

Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto any bills passed by the Legislature.

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