Lawmakers approve school cellphone ban for Georgia elementary and middle school students

Thousands of students won’t be allowed to use cellphones in school beginning next fall after the Georgia General Assembly overwhelmingly supported banning the devices in elementary and middle schools.

House Bill 340 passed the Senate Tuesday with a 54-2 vote, after the state House approved it with strong bipartisan support earlier this month.

It now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp who is expected to sign the measure into law.

Dubbed the “Distraction-Free Education Act,” the bill requires schools to develop policies that allow parents to reach their children by calling school offices and other means and provides exemptions for students with disabilities or medical conditions that require cellphone use for learning or health reasons.

Starting in July 2026, however, all other students would be required to hand over or lock up their devices for the entirety of the school day.