Connecticut Senate kills bell-to-bell cellphone ban bill

8 articles · Updated · The Connecticut Mirror · May 6

HB 5035, backed by Governor Ned Lamont and passed by the House, was set to bar public-school students from phone use all school day, including lunch and class changes.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said bipartisan concerns over local control and limited time left in the 2026 session prevented consensus to bring the measure to the floor.
Current law leaves phone policies to districts under state guidance; teachers' unions backed a statewide ban, while school boards opposed it, and lawmakers said the issue will likely return.

If phone bans reduce suspensions by 35%, why are states leaving this policy up to local districts?

With research on phone bans showing mixed results, are schools missing the real problem of digital literacy?

Do school phone bans truly boost grades, or is the main benefit a less anxious generation of students?