Potential statewide cell phone ban moves past House of Representatives
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Georgia is following in the footsteps of at least eight other states, including South Carolina by trying to ban cell phones in classrooms.
It will require all public schools K-8 to remove electronic devices from children during school hours.
House Bill 340 is called the distraction-free education act, or 'bell to bell no cell.'
If it passes through the Senate over a million children's 2026 school year will look a lot different.
'With cell phones in schools are not able to learn, it's a huge distraction. The data shows kids are spending almost 90 minutes on their phones during the school day receiving up to 237 notifications on their phone, and it's become a real issue,' said State Representative for the 48th district of GA Scott Hilton.
Thats why he is one of many sponsoring the bill. He said that as a parent himself the ban will ensure children get used to a distraction-free learning environment at a young age.
'Those schools that have done this thus far have absolutely transformed. Kids are engaging, they're socializing,' Hilton said. 'The academic performance has gone up. Public safety is increased, fewer fights, fewer bullying.'
Superintendent of Savannah-Chatham County public schools Denise Watts explained that many schools in the district have already adopted a no cell phone policy. She said the potential new law will cause consistency across the district.
'Our current policy allows each school to handle their own way to manage cell phones, and we have some schools that are already probably ahead of the curve with the state and how they manage cell phones and others that are not,' said Watts. 'I think that guidance will bring some consistency across the board.'Georgia is following in the footsteps of at least eight other states, including South Carolina by trying to ban cell phones in classrooms.
Bryan County parent Savannah Kelly said she is in full support of HB 340. Her kids are only five and seven, and they don't have smart phones, but she said she's worried about what they are already getting exposed to from their classmates.
'There's just certain things that I feel like if they were eliminating smartphones in schools, our kids just simply wouldn't have the access that they have today,' Kelly said. 'You know, I don't really care about a $35 Stanley cup. It's more of like the demonic things, the games that have predators who are trafficking children.'
Limiting screen time among young people could have another important effect. Helping suicide rates amongst our adolescents decrease.
Since 2007 which is when the first iPhone was created suicide rates have tripled amongst children ages 10-14. The same age groups this bill directly affects.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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