California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday that would require school districts to implement a series of restrictions on students’ cellphone use during the school day.

The bipartisan bill is titled the Phone-Free Schools Act and gives school districts until July 1, 2026, to “develop and adopt a policy that restricts or prohibits the use of smartphones by their students while the students are on school property or while under the supervision and control of one or more employees of that school district, county school board, or charter school.”

Their policies will then have to be updated every five years and also include a newly added amendment that allows districts to use so-called “enforcement mechanisms” to limit students’ access to their phones.

Rep. Josh Hoover introduced the bill, which was co-authored by a number of senators and representatives, including a number of senators and representatives from Southern California. It received 38 of 40 votes from lawmakers and will now head to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, who is expected to sign it, especially after he previously asked educators to limit the use of phones in the classroom.

“Every classroom should be a place of focus, learning and growth. Together, educators, administrators and parents can create an environment where students can fully focus on their education, free from the distractions of phones and the pressures of social media,” Newsom wrote in a letter at the time.

If signed, California would be the fifth U.S. state to pass a similar law.

Why ban phones?

Like many other arguments about why students should be allowed to use their personal devices on campus, AB-3216 points to “growing evidence that unrestricted use of smartphones by elementary and secondary school students during the school day undermines the educational mission of schools, lowers student achievement, particularly among low-achieving students, encourages cyberbullying, and contributes to increases in anxiety, depression, and suicide among teens.”

In addition, the report argues for similar bans that have even been introduced abroad, pointing to decisions in Spain and France, where mobile phone bans improved test results and reduced the number of bullying cases.

The bill clearly states that the policies do not apply in the event of an emergency, perceived danger, or when students are granted access by school personnel. It also states that districts do not have the authority to monitor, collect, or access information about a student’s online activities.

Some students may receive an exception depending on whether a licensed physician or surgeon determines it is necessary for their well-being.

A few months ago, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the country, issued their own ban on telephone use during school hours. It also cited data pointing to the negative impact phones can have on a student’s mental health and readiness to learn.