Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill Thursday to ban cell phones in schools throughout New Jersey.
The State Senate originally passed Bill S3695 last month, which calls for guidelines to restrict and/or ban the use of cell phone or cell phone adjacent devices during school hours.
The law makes it mandatory for all school districts in New Jersey to adopt strict cell phone guidelines for students. But the restrictions would have different rules for different grades. Regardless of the restrictions, it would still prohibit the non-academic use of a cell phones or social media during class time.
“The guidelines shall, at a minimum: (1) provide age appropriate and grade-level differentiated guidelines concerning limiting and prohibiting student use of [cell phones and social media platforms] internet-enabled devices (2) prohibit non-academic use of [a cell phone or social media during classroom instruction] an internet-enabled device on school grounds during the school day,” the piece of legislation reads in part.
The new rules take effect at the start of the next school year.
“With today’s bill signing, we are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens that detract from academic performance. In schools across our state, from Ramsey to Woodbury, we have seen the positive impact of phone-free policies,” Murphy said in a statement Thursday.
“Teachers report that students are more focused, less anxious, and they are socializing and laughing with each other — not through a screen — but in hallways and classrooms. By getting rid of needless distractions, we are fundamentally changing our schools’ learning environments and encouraging our children to be more attentive and engaged during the school day. This is a sensible policy that will make a world of difference for our children,” Murphy’s statement went on to say.
The law brings into fruition the state’s bell-to-bell prohibition on cell phone use — a plan that has been in the works for a while.
Supporters said concerns over students’ mental health and disruptions to the learning environment caused by internet-enabled devices made this piece of legislation necessary.
In its original “Guidance for Schools on Student Use of Internet Enabled Devices,” published in 2025, the state said: “In today’s increasingly connected world, cell phones and other internet-enabled devices are integral to how students communicate, access information, and engage with the broader world. However, the unregulated use of these devices during the school day can result in lower academic performance, harm to emotional well-being, and deterioration of a positive school climate.”
The guidance further said: “In response to these concerns, the New Jersey Department of Education has developed this set of guidelines to support districts in crafting thoughtful, inclusive, and age-appropriate policies based on research and best practices that allow for flexibility in local implementation.”
New Jersey joins a growing list of school districts and states implementing cell phone bans.
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