Madison: Wisconsin has become the 36th state in the US to limit cellphone and electronic device use in schools after Governor Tony Evers signed a bill requiring districts to prohibit phone use during class time.

The measure, passed with bipartisan support, mandates all public schools to adopt policies banning cellphone use during instructional hours by July 1. Exceptions include emergencies, health management, use under an individualized education program, or teacher-approved educational purposes.

Evers said that while he prefers such decisions be made locally, his priority is doing what's best for children. He expressed concern about the negative effects of cellphone and social media use, calling them “a major distraction from learning, a source of bullying, and a barrier to our kids' important work of just being a kid.”

This school year alone, 17 states and the District of Columbia have implemented new restrictions on phone use. Florida was the first to enact such a law in 2023. Both Democrats and Republicans have supported the push, reflecting a growing consensus that phones harm students' focus and mental health, though some researchers say the evidence is mixed.

Most Wisconsin districts had already limited phone use, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum. Of the 36 states with restrictions, 18 — and the District of Columbia — enforce all-day bans, while others, like Georgia and Florida, impose “bell-to-bell” bans for kindergarten through eighth grade.