A piece of legislation championed by a local lawmaker would require public schools across the commonwealth to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day.
Senate Bill 1014, which passed with a 46-1 vote in the Pennsylvania Senate, mandates a “bell-to-bell” ban on mobile devices.
The proposal is designed to reduce classroom distractions, bolster academic performance, and address concerns regarding youth mental health and social development, according to State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat; State Sen. Devlin Robinson, a Republican; and State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a Democrat.
The three lawmakers are the bill’s primary sponsors and argued that existing “instructional time” bans, which only prohibit phone use during active classes, are no enough.
Proponents of the proposal said bell-to-bell policies are more effective because they encourage social skill development during lunch periods and between classes.
“Our classrooms should be places for learning, not constant notifications,” Robinson said. “This bill gives students the freedom to focus, connect with peers, and protect their mental health from the pressures of social media.”
While the legislation sets a statewide standard, it allows individual school districts to maintain local control over implementation, including how and where devices are stored.
The bill includes several exceptions, including students with specific medical conditions or individualized education plans (IEPs) requiring a device, English as a second language learners using phones for translation, limited instructional use approved by a principal, and special events such as science fairs or field days.
Kelly Marsh, a parent and co-leader of PA Unplugged, a group focused on phone-free schools, welcomed the Senate’s passage of the bill.
“Learning happens throughout the entire school day — in the classrooms, hallways, and lunchroom,” Marsh said. “By removing the constant pull of the smartphone, we are giving students back their ability to focus, access their creativity, and build real, human connections.”
Santarsiero, a former Bensalem Township School District teacher, shared a personal account of a 90-minute school lockdown 17 years ago.
The senator noted that students used phones to spread rumors of a gunman, which caused hysteria.
It was later discovered the police activity was blocks away and no one was inside the school.
“From my personal experience, these things are not helpful in those circumstances; they are an impediment,” Santarsiero said at a press conference in Harrisburg on Wednesday.
Santarsiero stated that while smartphones have benefits, the current problem with phones in schools reflects the “unintended consequences” of the technology.
Legislators cited data showing that teen depression has risen approximately 150 percent since the early 2010s, and suicide rates among children ages 10-14 tripled between 2007 and 2021. Research also indicates that the average teen receives 237 notifications daily and spends roughly 90 minutes on their phone during school hours.
According to data cited by the bill’s supporters, student sentiment has shifted toward the restrictions. In the spring of 2025, 60 percent of teens reported wanting phone restrictions; by the fall of 2025, that figure rose to 76 percent.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the state’s largest teachers’ union, announced its support for the bill last October.
“We want our teachers focused on educating students, not policing the use of cellphones and fighting for their attention,” Hughes said, adding that some schools in the state have already seen positive results from similar policies.
If the bill becomes law, Pennsylvania would join 28 other states with student cellphone restrictions.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro expressed his support for a school cellphone ban last week and again in his budget address on Tuesday.
The legislation now moves to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for consideration.
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