California school districts will be required to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones in public schools following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature of a new bill into law Monday. AB 3216, authored by Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover of Folsom, requires school districts to adopt a policy to limit or ban phones on school campuses by July 1, 2026.

California is the latest and largest state to require its schools to restrict or ban cellphone use in the classroom.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law Monday a bill that will restrict cell phones in schools across the state.  The Phone-Free School Act requires every public school to create a

AB 3216 — makes California the fifth state to require all public schools to restrict student phone use on school grounds.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring schools to limit or prohibit students from using their cellphones during the school day.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed legislation into law that directs school districts across California to draft and implement policies that will limit students' use of cell phones during the school day.

School districts, county offices of education and charter schools in California will now be required to limit or ban the usage of smartphones in schools under a new state law after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Monday.

California joins Florida and Louisiana in legislation that seeks to curb student phone access in the classroom.

Under the new law, California elementary and secondary schools have until 2026 to implement guidelines to reduce smartphone usage. The rules can be relaxed in case of emergencies or health issues.