Governor to seek statewide 'away for the day' ban on student cell phones

The governor announced plans to sponsor governor-request legislation that would require students to keep cell phones out of reach during the school day — an "away for the day" policy that, he said, many districts already use.

"Over a school year, we lose up to 41 days of learning because kids are staring at their phones, not listening to their teacher," the governor said, attributing the figure to studies he cited while arguing the policy could improve classroom performance.

He described the proposed measure as low-cost and ready for statewide adoption, saying his office will prioritize it among governor-request bills and mount outreach at schools around the state to build support. "We're just gonna have to make this governor request this session. Let's really go big on it," he said.

The governor acknowledged earlier legislative attempts that he said were watered down into studies or reporting requirements and told the audience he will use direct testimony from students and educators to persuade legislators. He framed the policy as a practical step to reduce distraction and improve learning without requiring major additional state spending.

Next steps the governor outlined included drafting governor-request legislation for the upcoming session and continuing public events to highlight local experiences in districts that already limit phone access.