Lawmakers OK school cellphone ban
Bill sent to Shapiro; governor expected to sign legislation
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In what were effectively the waning moments of the 2025-26 legislative session, lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to a policy they had sought for years -- a ban of most student cellphones in schools.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has asked for such a cellphone bill and is expected to sign it.
The student cellphone vote in the Senate came on the last voting session day before the general election for both chambers -- in the final year of the two-year session. That, traditionally, is the final day on which lawmakers take significant votes, even though a few session days happen after the election.
The House Appropriations committee moved the updated version of Senate Bill 1014 to the full House Monday, and it was swiftly approved in the House the same day by a 141-62 vote in a largely bipartisan vote.
After Wednesday's Senate vote, Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, released a statement praising both chambers of the state legislature for getting the bill through before the end of the legislative session.
"I championed this measure in the House for one basic reason -- our children need it," Steele said in a press release. "We're hitting back at Big Tech as they hold an entire generation captive to their phones. Throughout this process, I've heard from many educators and parents who see the harm to our children because of unfettered access to phones. And research backs it up. Today is a historic day in the General Assembly, and I greatly appreciate that both chambers were able to come together to do this."
"They have not in any way helped improve student learning or social growth," Sen. Devlin Robinson said of student cellphones. The bill sponsor and an Allegheny County Republican, Robinson said allowing students to have cellphones has helped them be "the first generation to be less intelligent than their parents."
The bill calls on school entities to come up with details of their individual bans and adopt a policy by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The final vote in the Senate was 47-3 to approve changes made in the House.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association also released a statement following the Senate vote, thanking legislators for approving the bill.
"We commend the bipartisan group of lawmakers who voted for this important legislation, freeing Pennsylvania students from the constant disruptions of cellphones and mobile devices during the school day," said Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. "This bill takes an essential step toward reducing distractions for students during class time and keeping lessons and teaching on track."
In the House, there were more than 60 "no" votes, including by some representatives who felt allowing students with individualized education programs -- or IEPs -- to keep their phones would create trouble. The segment of students with IEPs has in some years been about 19%.
Rep. Scott Barger, R-Blair, said he supports the effort to ban cellphone use in schools but said there are too many exceptions in SB 1014.
"As much as I would like to see all smartphones gathered up and put in a landfill, I think this legislation is going to cause stress for teachers, administrators and school officials," Barger said. "I would support a version with no exceptions."