Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill to make California schools phone-free. Here’s when it takes effect
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.