Florida's school cell phone ban pushes boundaries with new legislation

Yahoo

13-03-2025

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — As more states follow in Florida's footsteps banning the use of cell phones in schools, state lawmakers in Tallahassee are continuing the conversation trying to take Florida's current ban one step further.Back in 2023, the legislature passed a bill that prohibited students from using cellphones at school during class time. That effort was spearheaded by State Senator Danny Burgess, (R-Zephyrhills), who now wants to examine the impact of phone-free school campuses on student behavior.
Phones are distracting students. More states want schools to ban them
Senate Bill 1296, aims to establish a pilot program in six Florida school districts that currently have or will be implementing a policy to prohibit the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day.
That's not the only effort at the statehouse being taken up on this issue. To further address distracted learning, lawmakers are pushing to ban students from using their cell phones from the start of the day until the end.
'Cell phones not only cause constant distractions to a student's focus during the school day, which impedes their ability to learn, but it also has shown to increase bullying throughout the school day,' said State Rep. Demi Busatta, (R-Coral Gables).
Busatta wants to build off of current Florida law with House Bill 949. The bill prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during the school day, rather than just during instruction time.
'It also requires schools to designate locations within the school building where students can use their cell phones with permission of a school administrator,' Busatta said.
The bill, which just passed out of its first committee, has already rallied up support.'In my district, we've had two schools who implemented on their own a no cell phone policy during the day and it has done remarkable,' said State Rep. Susan Valdes, (R-Tampa).
But even with the bill getting a green light, not everyone is sold.
'Things have changed because of school lockdowns and school shootings, I do have concerns if this ever were to go a step further in terms of the pouches where students wouldn't have access at all to their cell phones,' said State Rep. Lavon Bracy Davis, (D-Ocoee).
However, despite those concerns, both Republicans and Democrats voted in favor of the bill moving forward.
State Representative Dianne Hart, (D-Tampa) shared with 8 On Your Side that she sees both sides of the argument and wants to go back to her district and speak with parents and constituents to hear their thoughts on the issue.
'It does frighten me that kids cannot have their phones, but I can tell you that these children are so distracted by these telephones and that concerns me,' Hart said. 'That you're not learning because you're constantly playing with your phone.'
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