COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s governor signed a bill Wednesday that will require a cell phone usage policy be created at every school district in the state.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio’s governor signed a bill Wednesday that will require a cell phone usage policy be created at every school district in the state

  • House Bill 250 was sponsored by former state Rep. Jessica Miranda, D-Forest Park, and Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville

  • While this bill, which didn’t receive a single nay vote, focuses on limiting the use of cell phones in the classroom, there are some exceptions for health monitoring and student learning

  • The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will create and publish a model policy schools can use to help create their own, as they will be required to have a policy by July 2025

“Our school children currently face countless distractions every day from the devices in their pockets,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a release from his office. “By limiting these distractions, we will reestablish the opportunity for students across Ohio to immerse themselves in their classwork, learn from their teachers, and create lifelong memories with their closest friends.”

House Bill 250 was sponsored by former state Rep. Jessica Miranda, D-Forest Park, and Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville. The release also specifically calls out Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Deleware, for his efforts to champion the cell-phone provision within the bill.

While this bill, which didn’t receive a single nay vote, focuses on limiting the use of cell phones in the classroom, there are some exceptions for health monitoring and student learning, the release notes.

“Local school districts will create the policies that work best in their environments and for their students, but the core mission of this bill is clear: minimize screen time during school time,” DeWine said in the release. “Not only is this time precious for the educational development of our children, but we also have a responsibility to safeguard our kids from the nonstop barrage of alerts from the internet and social media that have been proven to be damaging to their mental health.”

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he’s received unanimous feedback from schools he’s spoken with regarding their policies on the use of smartphones in their classrooms. He said academic performance is improved while bullying decreases along with discipline issues.

“It’s important that students are focused on their lessons rather than ‘likes,’ and giving them a few hours out of the day without their phones will minimize their time on social media apps and algorithms that are addicting and harming them,” Husted said. “This bill is a positive step for Ohio students and families.”

The release also states that the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will create and publish a model policy schools can use to help create their own, as they will be required to have a policy by July 2025.

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