After several months of debate, legislation banning the use of cell phones in New Jersey K-12 public schools has officially been signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy.
Murphy, who has supported the measure for years, has consistently cited cell phones as a major classroom distraction and a contributing factor to declining mental health among teenagers.
The bill, which was approved by both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly in December, establishes a bell-to-bell ban on student cell phone use during the school day.
“With this legislation, New Jersey is going to set a national standard for protecting our students, their mental well-being, and their ability to succeed in the classroom,” Murphy said in a statement. “There has never been a better moment to enact this transformative policy, as we are finally seeing a return to pre-pandemic levels of academic achievement among our students.”
The governor added that the new law will help create a more nurturing and supportive classroom environment, allowing educators and staff to focus on instruction rather than enforcing rules around personal devices.
