Georgia Lawmakers Approve Cell Phone Ban in High Schools
In a significant move aimed at reducing classroom distractions, a new bill banning the use of cell phones in Georgia high schools has been approved by the state legislature and is now awaiting Governor Brian Kemp’s signature. The measure, known as House Bill 1009, received unanimous support in the Senate earlier this week.
The proposed law, championed by Senator Shawn Still, seeks to enhance student focus by implementing a strict “bell-to-bell” prohibition on mobile devices. Still emphasized the importance of this change, noting its potential to restore essential communication skills among students. “Teacher after teacher has said, please get these devices out of the classroom, but get them out of the lunchroom too,” Still remarked. “Kids have forgotten how to communicate with each other. They’ve forgotten and lost the ability to have interpersonal skills. And those are critical things that we all learned growing up that kids in this generation do not have.”
Senator Ed Setzler also voiced his support for the initiative, highlighting its advantage in allowing educators to concentrate on teaching rather than managing phone usage. “One thing teachers have said is the ability to not have to police phones and focus on instructing kids is the power of the proposal of 1009 and what a bell-to-bell ban really means,” Setzler stated.
The legislation is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027, expanding a similar policy enacted in 2025 that targeted K-8 schools across the state. While the primary goal is to eliminate unnecessary interruptions, the bill allows for certain exceptions, including medical needs.
