WELCOME BACK IN. EMMA OWEN HERE AT THE BREAKING NEWS DESK. THIS JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM. THE ALABAMA HOUSE HAS PASSED A BILL REGARDING CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOLS. ACCORDING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE BILL WOULD MAKE SEVERAL CHANGES. AMONG THEM, IT WOULD BAN THE USE, OPERATION AND POSSESSION OF CELL PHONES ON CERTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTIES. NOW, THERE’S THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE BAN. AMONG THEM, STUDENTS CAN USE THEIR PHONES IF IT’S PART OF THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED HEALTH PLAN OR IF IT’S FOR LEARNING PURPOSES. NOW, THE BILL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO HAVE AN INTERNET SAFETY POLICY. STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY COUR
Alabama House passes bill banning cellphone use at school
Updated: 6:41 PM CDT Apr 3, 2025
Alabama’s House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday banning the access and use of cell phones at public K-12 schools within the state.The bill was first introduced on Feb. 4 and is now heading to the Senate. House Bill 166 introduced the Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act, which bans the use of devices at school and requires education boards to establish an Internet safety policy. It also requires students to complete a social media safety course before beginning the eighth grade.The bill specifies that the act does not just apply to cellphones, but any “wireless communication device” that is capable of messaging. This includes computers, tablets and other gaming devices. The basis of the bill says that the presence of phones within the classroom negatively impacts the learning environment, distracts students and contributes to poor mental health.The bill also notes that there are only some special circumstances when students may use their devices. If a student has special accommodations or educational supervision, usage is allowed. Students can still have their phones stored in “a locker, car, or similar storage location” for emergency circumstances, but they must be turned off. In a post on X Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey, who has expressed support for the bill since its conception, wrote, “Let’s get final passage and create the best learning environment for our students.”As Alabama’s cellphone ban bill is on its way to the Senate, a similar bill has progressed in Georgia. House Bill 340, or the Distraction-Free Education Act, passed the Senate on March 25. It is now heading to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk, awaiting his signature.
Alabama’s House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday banning the access and use of cell phones at public K-12 schools within the state.
The bill was first introduced on Feb. 4 and is now heading to the Senate.
House Bill 166 introduced the Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act, which bans the use of devices at school and requires education boards to establish an Internet safety policy. It also requires students to complete a social media safety course before beginning the eighth grade.
The bill specifies that the act does not just apply to cellphones, but any “wireless communication device” that is capable of messaging. This includes computers, tablets and other gaming devices.
The basis of the bill says that the presence of phones within the classroom negatively impacts the learning environment, distracts students and contributes to poor mental health.
The bill also notes that there are only some special circumstances when students may use their devices. If a student has special accommodations or educational supervision, usage is allowed.
Students can still have their phones stored in “a locker, car, or similar storage location” for emergency circumstances, but they must be turned off.
In a post on X Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey, who has expressed support for the bill since its conception, wrote, “Let’s get final passage and create the best learning environment for our students.”
As Alabama’s cellphone ban bill is on its way to the Senate, a similar bill has progressed in Georgia.
House Bill 340, or the Distraction-Free Education Act, passed the Senate on March 25. It is now heading to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk, awaiting his signature.
