AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.

sHB5035 / File No. 726 1

House of Representatives

File No. 726
General Assembly
February Session, 2026 (Reprint of File No. 402)

Substitute House Bill No. 5035
As Amended by House Amendment
Schedule "A"

Approved by the Legislative Commissioner
April 28, 2026

AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR
PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10 -233j of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2027): 2
[(a) No student in a public school in the state shall possess or use a 3
remotely activated paging device unless such student obtains the 4
written permission of the school principal for such possession and use. 5
The principal shall grant such permission only if the student or his 6
parent or guardian establishes to the satisfaction of the principal that a 7
reasonable basis exists for the possession and use of the device. 8
(b) A local or regional board of education may restrict the student 9
possession or use of cellular mobile telephones in the schools under its 10
jurisdiction. In determining whether to restrict such possession or use, 11
the local or regional board of education shall consider the special needs 12

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of parents and students.] 13
(a) As used in this section: 14
(1) "Wireless communication device" means any portable wireless 15
device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging or other data 16
communication between two or more parties, including, but not limited 17
to, a (A) cellular mobile telephone, (B) tablet computer, (C) computer or 18
laptop computer, (D) gaming device, or (E) smart watch; 19
(2) "Personal wireless communication device" means a wireless 20
communication device that is owned by or otherwise under the control 21
of a student or parent or guardian of a student and has not been issued 22
to such student or another student by the local or regional board of 23
education; 24
(3) "Access" means holding, viewing, wearing or otherwise using a 25
wireless communication device for the purpose of communication, 26
accessing the Internet, gaming or any other function commonly 27
associated with a wireless communication device; 28
(4) "Student" means a child enrolled in (A) a preschool program 29
operated by a local or regional board of education, or (B) grade 30
kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, in a public school in this state; and 31
(5) "Social media" has the same meaning as provided in section 10 -32
231c. 33
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) of this 34
subsection, no student shall be permitted to access or use such student's 35
personal wireless communication device on school grounds during the 36
regular school day. All such personal wireless communication devices 37
shall be powered off and stored in a manner prescribed by the policy 38
adopted by the local or regional board of education pursuant to 39
subsection (d) of this section. 40
(2) A student may access and use a personal wireless communication 41
device on school grounds during the regular school day if (A) such use 42
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or access is required under such student's individualized education 43
program, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education 44
Improvement Act of 2004 and sections 10-76a to 10-76ooo, inclusive, or 45
is necessary to implement the provisions of an accommodations plan for 46
such student pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 47
as amended from time to time, for such student, (B) a licensed physician, 48
physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse determines 49
that such use or access is necessary for the health and well-being of such 50
student, or (C) such use or access is limited to a computer, laptop 51
computer or tablet computer for instructional purposes only and 52
authorized under the policy adopted by the local or regional board of 53
education pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. 54
(c) No student may access any social media platforms through the use 55
of the Internet provided by the school during the school day, except 56
such access to a social media platform may be permitted when such 57
access is for instructional purposes. 58
(d) Each local and regional board of education shall adopt, and 59
update as necessary, a policy restricting the student access or use of 60
personal wireless communication devices during the regular school 61
day. A board shall consider the unique needs of teachers, 62
administrators, parents and guardians and students in the school 63
district. Such policy shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) a 64
prohibition on the access or use of personal wireless communication 65
devices by students on school grounds during the regular school day, 66
(2) provisions permitting the student access or use of personal wireless 67
communication devices during the regular school day in accordance 68
with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, 69
(3) provisions regarding the storage of personal wireless 70
communication devices during the regular school day, including, but 71
not limited to, in a student's locker or in a specified location, (4) a system 72
of enforcement and discipline for violating the provisions of this section 73
or such policy, and (5) procedures for communicating between boards 74
of education and parents and guardians of students in the event of an 75
emergency that occurs during the regular school day. 76
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(e) Each local and regional board of education shall annually notify 77
the parents and guardians of students regarding the policy adopted 78
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section and include such policy in the 79
student handbooks for the school district. 80
Sec. 2. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) No local or regional board of 81
education may use social media as the exclusive means of directly 82
communicating with, or otherwise providing notice or information to, 83
students and the parents and guardians of students enrolled in a school 84
under the jurisdiction of the board. As used in this section, "social 85
media" has the same meaning as provided in section 10 -231c of the 86
general statutes. 87
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2027 10-233j
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 New section

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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill has no fiscal impact. It requires local and regional boards of
education (BOEs) to develop policies to ensure student use of cell
phones, other mobile devices, and social media is restricted during the
regular school day except in certain circumstances. It is anticipated that
BOEs can meet the requirements of the bill with existing resources.
House "A" eliminates the original bill and its associated fiscal impact,
and results in the impact described above.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5035 (as amended by House "A")*

AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR
PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.

SUMMARY
This bill bans public school students from accessing their personal
wireless communication devices on school property during the regular
school day, with certain exceptions. It also prohibits (1) these students
from accessing social media using the school’s internet during the
school day (unless permitted for instructional purposes) and (2) local or
regional boards of education (“school boards”) from using social media
as the only way they communicate with students and their parents or
guardians.
Under the bill, students’ devices must be turned off and stored as the
school board determines. School boards must develop policies to
implement the bill’s prohibitions and notify parents and students about
the policy.
Lastly, it makes technical and conforming changes, including by
repealing provisions in existing law (1) prohibiting students from using
remotely activated paging devices and (2) allowing schools to restrict
cell phone use in their schools.
*House Amendment “A” (1) adds the provision banning school
boards from using social media as the only way of communicating with
parents and students; (2) narrows the types of personal devices that may
be used if permitted for instructional purposes ; (3) expands what the
policy must cover; and (4) makes various other minor, technical, and
conforming changes.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2027
SCOPE OF BAN
The bill prohibits holding, viewing, wearing, or otherwise using
“wireless communication devices” to communicate, access the Internet,
or play games, or for any other function commonly associated with the
devices. “Wireless communication devices” are portable, wireless
devices capable of providing data communication between two or more
parties, including cell phones, tablets, computers, laptops, gaming
devices, and smart watches.
The bill’s ban applies specifically to:
1. wireless communication devices owned or controlled by a
student or his or her parent or guardian (not to devices issued to
students by the school board) and
2. public school students in grades kindergarten to 12 and
preschool students in a program operated by a school board.
The bill’s social media restrictions apply to any electronic medium
where users create and view user -generated content (such as videos,
photos, blogs, or instant messages).
Exceptions to the Ban
Under the bill, the ban does not apply to any technology the school
district provides to students for instructional purposes. It also does not
apply when:
1. a student requires access to a device under an individualized
education program (IEP) or 504 plan;
2. the device is necessary for a student’s health or well -being, as
determined by a physician, physician’s assistant, or advanced
practice registered nurse; or
3. students are permitted to use personal computers, laptops, or
tablets for instructional purposes under the school board’s
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policy.
BOARD POLICIES
The bill requires school boards to adopt, and update when necessary,
a policy implementing the bill’s ban, considering the unique needs of
teachers, administrators, parents, guardians, and students in the district.
The policy must cover:
1. the bill’s personal device ban and exceptions;
2. how devices must be stored , such as in a student’s locker or
specified location, during the regular school day;
3. discipline and enforcement for violations; and
4. procedures for communicating between school boards and
students’ parents and guardians if an emergency happens during
the school day.
Under the bill, school boards must annually notify students’ parents
and guardians about the policy and procedures, as well as include them
in the school district’s student handbook.
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
sHB 5149, favorably reported by the Education Committee, similarly
bans students from using mobile electronic devices during the school
day.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Education Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 29 Nay 16 (03/16/2026)