Robinson, Hughes, Santarsiero Bill to Implement a Bell-to-Bell Ban on Student Cellphone Use During School Day Passes Senate

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Sens. Devlin Robinson (R-37), Vincent Hughes (D-7), and Steve Santarsiero (D-10) to require public schools across the commonwealth to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day.

Senate Bill 1014 aims to curb classroom distractions, improve student academic performance, and address growing concerns about youth mental health and social development.

"Our classrooms should be places for learning, not constant notifications," Robinson said. "This bill gives students the freedom to focus, connect with peers, and protect their mental health from the pressures of social media."

The bill would create a consistent statewide standard: students may not use cellphones during the school day. A bell-to-bell policy differs from an instructional time ban (a policy which most Pennsylvania schools already have) in that an instructional time ban only prohibits student cellphone use during class time. Data show bell-to-bell policies are more effective than instructional time policies. Proponents of bell-to-bell bans argue that instructional time bans ignore the critical development of social skills that occur between classes, at lunch, and during other free periods throughout the school day.

"This bell-to-bell legislation will help both students and teachers get the most out of the school day," said Hughes. "We want our students focused on learning and socializing, not glued to their screens. And we want our teachers focused on educating students, not policing the use of cell phones and fighting for their attention. Some Pennsylvania schools have already implemented the bell-to-bell policy with great results. I am hopeful we can get this legislation to the Governor's desk to make this meaningful change happen statewide."

Senate Bill 1014 ensures districts retain local control by giving them the flexibility to choose how to implement and enforce the standard in a way that works best for their communities, including deciding where phones must be stored throughout the day. Exceptions to the policy would be made for:

1. Students with certain medical conditions,
2. Students with individualized education plans that require the use of a personal communication device,
3. English as a second language learners who use cellphones for translation purposes,
4. Very limited instances for teachers who want to use cellphones as instructional tools with approval by the school principal, and
5. Single-day special occasions like field days or science fairs.

"With the bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 1014, a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in PA K-12 schools, in the Pennsylvania Senate, we're taking an important step toward creating more focused, distraction-free classrooms," said Santarsiero. "I want to thank my cosponsors Sen. Robinson and Sen. Hughes, as well as our allies like PA Unplugged, for getting Senate Bill 1014 to this critical milestone. Gov. Shapiro supports this commonsense policy, and now it's critical that the House act quickly to send this bill to his desk so it can become law. As a former teacher, I know how essential clear, consistent rules are to supporting educators and keeping students engaged in learning."

Schools, educators, and parents across Pennsylvania have increasingly expressed concern about the proven link between smartphones and anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and reduced classroom engagement.

Recent data reveals an alarming decline in youth mental health and academic performance, coinciding with the widespread adoption of smartphones:

• Since the early 2010s, teen depression has surged by approximately 150%, while suicide rates among children ages 10-14 have tripled between 2007 and 2021, with the steepest increases among girls.
• Today, teens receive an average of 237 notifications daily and spend nearly eight hours per day on screens - equivalent to a full-time job. On average, one and a half of these hours are during the school day.
• Nearly half of U.S. teens report experiencing cyberbullying, 45% feel overwhelmed by social media drama, and 26% say it worsens their lives.
• Research also links smartphone use before age 13 to increased aggression, emotional instability, and suicidal thoughts later in life.

Teens themselves have noticed this dramatic decline in their generation's mental health, and they're asking for help - the percentage of teens reporting that they want some form of restrictions on phone use during the school day rose from 60% in the spring of 2025 to 76% just a few months later in the fall of 2025.

"As a coalition of parents and caregivers, we're thankful to the senators for agreeing that it is time for Pennsylvania to join the ranks of states leading the way on this critical, bipartisan issue," said Kelly Marsh, parent and co-lead of PA Unplugged, a grassroots group advocating for phone-free schools in Pennsylvania. "We've heard from families across the Commonwealth that want a distraction-free learning environment that supports both academic success and social and emotional growth. Learning happens throughout the entire school day - in the classrooms, hallways, and lunchroom, and by removing the constant pull of the smartphone, we are giving students back their ability to focus, access their creativity, and build real, human connections."

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the largest teacher's union in the state, announced their support of Senate Bill 1014 in October 2025.

"PSEA wants to thank Sens. Robinson, Santarsiero, and Hughes for leading a bipartisan coalition to take this important step, which will support Pennsylvania's students, their overall well-being, and their academic achievement," PSEA Vice President Jeff Ney said. "Placing greater restrictions on mobile devices during the school day will be an adjustment for students, educators, and parents. We appreciate the leadership of the senators to take up this difficult task and do the right thing for our kids."

If enacted, Pennsylvania would join 28 states with student cellphone restrictions - including 19 states enforcing bell-to-bell bans.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sens. Robinson, Hughes, and Santarsiero recently published an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette calling for the state to implement a bell-to-bell cellphone policy in schools, citing a growing body of research and strong public opinion in favor of cellphone-free schools.

For more information, visit senatorrobinson.com/cellphones_in_school/.

Videos:

Sen. Robinson floor remarks
Sen. Santarsiero floor remarks

CONTACT: Stephanie Applegate (Robinson)
Jessica Marpe (Hughes)
Sarah Jones (Santarsiero)