Pennsylvania Senate Votes 47-3 to Ban Phones in School From Bell to Bell

The Pennsylvania Senate voted 47-3 on Wednesday to ban cellphone use in schools from the first bell to the last, agreeing to changes made by the House and sending the bill to Gov. Josh Shapiro. Shapiro has already said he will sign it.

The bill, SB 1014, was introduced by Republican state Sen. Devlin Robinson. Students would not be allowed to use their phones from the time they arrive at school until dismissal, and each school would decide for itself how phones are stored and how the rule is enforced. Exceptions would be allowed for medical needs, emergencies, or with a principal’s approval. The ban would apply to public school districts, charter schools, private schools and career and technical schools, and would take effect in the 2027-28 school year.

The bill took a long road to the governor’s desk. The Senate first passed it 46-1 in February. The House approved an amended version 141-62 on Oct. 19, sending the bill back to the Senate. By agreeing to the House changes on Wednesday, the Senate finished the legislative process.

Pennsylvania is not moving alone. Education Week counts about 40 states that restrict student cellphone use in schools in some form, and 30 of them, like Pennsylvania, ban phones for the whole school day, from bell to bell. Once the bill is signed, Pennsylvania will join their ranks.

Supporters cite classroom focus and student mental health. Opponents have worried about parents being cut off from their children in an emergency. How daily life in classrooms actually changes will depend on the storage and enforcement plans each school puts in place.