California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill that requires “every school district, charter school and county office of education to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026.”
The bill, AB 3216, calls for governing bodies of schools to develop and update smartphone policies every five years.
“The goal of the policy shall be to promote evidence-based use of smartphone practices to support pupil learning and well-being,” the bill reads. “The development of the policy shall involve significant stakeholder participation in order to ensure that the policies are responsive to the unique needs and desires of pupils, parents, and educators in each community. The policy may also include enforcement mechanisms that limit access to smartphones.”
Newsom said in a statement, “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.”
Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover, the bill’s author, called the legislation a “major victory.”
“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,” Hoover said. “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.”
Newsom voiced his support for the bill after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for warning labels to be placed on social media platforms.
“As the Surgeon General affirmed, social media is harming the mental health of our youth. Building on legislation I signed in 2019, I look forward to working with the Legislature to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day,” Newsom said in June. When children and teens are in school, they should be focused on their studies — not their screens.”