GA may be next to ban phones in schools. What are the safety concerns?
Georgia is poised to become the ninth state in the U.S. to ban cellphone usage in schools. Georgia’s Distraction-Free Education Act (House Bill 340) will prohibit students in kindergarten through eighth grade from using personal electronic devices—including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and headphones—during school hours starting July 2026.
The bill cleared its final legislative hurdle in March 2025, passing the Senate 54-2 and now it awaits Governor Brian Kemp’s signature.
Key provisions of Georgia HB 340
Applies to all public school grades K-8
Requires devices to be stored in lockers, pouches, or other secured methods
Students with disabilities or medical needs (e.g., glucose monitoring) are exempted and may use devices for health or educational purposes
Districts must adopt policies by January 2026
Schools must establish alternative methods for parents to contact students
Who wants this bill?
The bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), argues that cellphones contribute to classroom distractions, bullying and mental health challenges. Capitol Beat cites Hilton as saying, “Years from now, we’re going to look back and say, ‘I can’t believe we ever allowed ourselves to do it.’”
John Zauner, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, predicted that if HB 340 passes, the “culture” around smartphone use will lose its grip as younger kids rise to high school.
A pilot program rolled out in Marietta City Schools has seen some really positive results, reported Fox5 News. Teachers say the phone restrictions correlated with improved grades and fewer disciplinary incidents.
Marietta Sixth Grade Academy Principal Keynun Campbell cosigns the bill’s intent, noting the strengthening of student connections. “It’s created a community among students,” Campbell said.
What are the major concerns with HB 340?
The major worries surrounding this bill involve access to phones during an emergency, particularly with the concerns surrounding school shootings.
Rep. Imani Barnes (D-Tucker) worries as a parent of a school age child. She relayed a situation in which her son was texting her during a school lockdown. “It terrified me,” she said. “He sent the information firsthand, quickly, from his phone.”
Hilton, a father of three, also worries about the safety of his children, but claims that phones can often escalate the dangers during emergencies. Hilton said. “In the case of an emergency, the last thing we want is a child to have a phone in their hand. They want the undivided attention of that student on the teacher, getting directions as to where to go.”
What is different from the existing school bans?
Bibb County already has rules regarding phone use. The Bibb County Code of Conduct states that cellphones “Devices must be turned off and out of sight from the moment students enter the school building until the end of the instructional day (when the dismissal bell rings)r.”
If signed into law, HB 340 would override Bibb’s current permissive policy, requiring a stricter ban with standardized enforcement across Georgia. Existing school-level measures like locker storage or device collection during class would need to align with the statewide mandate.
The law would not affect high schools, though lawmakers suggest future expansions if the K-8 ban proves successful.
Kemp’s office has not indicated a timeline for his decision, but parties on both sides await a resolution ahead of the 2026 implementation deadline.
What are your thoughts about the cell phone ban? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
