AB-235 • 2026

Pupils: use of smartphones.

Education Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Arambula
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide details on financial support from the state, only mentions reimbursement if mandated costs are identified by the Commission on State Mandates.

Rules for Smartphone Use in Schools

This law requires schools to create rules that limit or prohibit students from using smartphones during school hours and when they are under the supervision of teachers.

What This Bill Does

Requires schools to develop policies that either limit or completely ban smartphone use by students while at a school site or under teacher supervision.
Allows these policies to be updated every five years.
Expressly authorizes specific types of restriction policies, such as scheduled-based and full-day restrictions.

Who It Names or Affects

School districts
County offices of education
Charter schools

Terms To Know

Scheduled-based restriction policy: A rule that allows students to use smartphones only at certain times during the school day.
Full-day restriction policy: A rule that does not allow students to use smartphones at all during the school day.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money schools will need or receive for implementing these policies.
It is unclear what specific consequences there are if a school district fails to follow this rule.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (April 9).
2025-03-18 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on ED.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ED.
2025-01-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 13.
2025-01-13 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 235, as amended, Arambula.
Pupils: use of smartphones.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school, by July 1, 2026, to develop and adopt, and update every 5 years, a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school, as provided.
This bill would
require
expressly authorize
the above-described policy to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones to
be
include, but not be limited to,
a scheduled-based restriction policy, as defined, or a full-day restriction policy, as defined.
By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program.
The
California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF