Gavin Newsom Enacts Limitations on Cell Phone Use in Schools
In June, the governor of California initially revealed intentions to reduce screen time.
TroibNews 
SACRAMENTO, California — On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted legislation aimed at limiting student cell phone use in schools, a move he attributes to the escalating mental health crisis affecting children.
The governor first proposed reducing children’s screen time in June, following warnings from Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy regarding social media's negative impact on youth, as reported by PMG. The legislation he signed, introduced by Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover, mandates that school districts formulate their own policies concerning cell phone use ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues — but we have the power to intervene,” Newsom, a Democrat, stated. “This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school.”
Across the nation, bipartisan groups have advocated for restrictions on phone usage, even as recent school shootings and parents’ concerns for their children's safety have complicated these initiatives. California’s AB 3216 received minimal opposition, with only one Democrat voting against it.
“AB 3216 is a major victory for protecting and improving the mental health and academic outcomes of students across California,” Hoover commented.
Support for the legislation came from the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, and Los Angeles Unified, the largest school district in California. However, some school districts raised concerns, claiming the new law undermines local governance since many already have the authority to regulate phone usage.
“This legislation goes against the precepts of local control by taking the decision-making process out of the hands of the duly elected local governing board and requiring them to adopt a policy,” stated the California School Boards Association in a letter to legislators.
The new law attempts to consider one prevalent concern regarding phone restrictions: the potential for disconnecting parents from their children in emergencies, as highlighted by a recent shooting at a Georgia high school. It stipulates that students must be allowed to use their phones during emergencies, though school districts will decide how to facilitate this access.
According to a legislative committee analysis, creating these new policies is projected to cost several hundred thousand dollars in total.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
The governor first proposed reducing children’s screen time in June, following warnings from Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy regarding social media's negative impact on youth, as reported by PMG. The legislation he signed, introduced by Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover, mandates that school districts formulate their own policies concerning cell phone use ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues — but we have the power to intervene,” Newsom, a Democrat, stated. “This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school.”
Across the nation, bipartisan groups have advocated for restrictions on phone usage, even as recent school shootings and parents’ concerns for their children's safety have complicated these initiatives. California’s AB 3216 received minimal opposition, with only one Democrat voting against it.
“AB 3216 is a major victory for protecting and improving the mental health and academic outcomes of students across California,” Hoover commented.
Support for the legislation came from the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, and Los Angeles Unified, the largest school district in California. However, some school districts raised concerns, claiming the new law undermines local governance since many already have the authority to regulate phone usage.
“This legislation goes against the precepts of local control by taking the decision-making process out of the hands of the duly elected local governing board and requiring them to adopt a policy,” stated the California School Boards Association in a letter to legislators.
The new law attempts to consider one prevalent concern regarding phone restrictions: the potential for disconnecting parents from their children in emergencies, as highlighted by a recent shooting at a Georgia high school. It stipulates that students must be allowed to use their phones during emergencies, though school districts will decide how to facilitate this access.
According to a legislative committee analysis, creating these new policies is projected to cost several hundred thousand dollars in total.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
