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SB5346 • 2026
Restricting mobile device usage by public school students.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Student mobile device use
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
0 • Education
Plain English: 5346-S AMH ED H3649.1 SSB 5346 - H COMM AMD By Committee on Education ADOPTED AS AMENDED 03/04/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
Plain English: 5346-S AMH ENGR H3649.E SSB 5346 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED AND ENGROSSED 03/04/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
2167 • McClintock
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 5346-S AMH MCCL MOET 551 1 - Official Print By Representative McClintock 5346-S AMH MCCL MOET 551 SSB 5346 - H AMD 2167 WITHDRAWN 03/04/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following: "NEW SECTION.
2182 • McClintock
Plain English: 5346-S AMH MCCL H3755.1 SSB 5346 - H AMD TO ED COMM AMD (H-3649.1/26) 2182 By Representative McClintock NOT ADOPTED 03/04/2026 Beginning on page 1, line 3, strike all material through 1 "28A.650.010." on page 4, line 5 and insert the following:2 "NEW SECTION.
2287 • McClintock
Plain English: 5346-S AMH MCCL H3756.1 SSB 5346 - H AMD TO ED COMM AMD (H-3649.1/26) 2287 By Representative McClintock NOT ADOPTED 03/04/2026 On page 4, after line 5, insert the following: 1 "NEW SECTION.
2292 • Rude
Plain English: 5346-S AMH RUDE H3779.1 SSB 5346 - H AMD TO ED COMM AMD (H-3649.1/26) 2292 By Representative Rude NOT ADOPTED 03/04/2026 On page 4, after line 5, insert the following: 1 "NEW SECTION.
2293 • Rude
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 5346-S AMH RUDE MOET 552 1 - Official Print By Representative Rude EFFECT: (1) Requires school districts to have adopted policies and procedures on student mobile device possession during instructional hours by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.
2295 • Salahuddin
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 5346-S AMH SALA MOET 557 1 - Official Print By Representative Salahuddin EFFECT: Provides that a report by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Legislature on student mobile device use must include student input on two report components: (1) Evidence-based recommendations related to student mobile device use during instructional hours that support academic learning, healthy social relationships and emotional well-being; and (2) Recommendations for incorporating student mobile device use within the statutory definition of "digital citizenship." 5346-S AMH SALA MOET 557 SSB 5346 - H AMD TO ED COMM AMD (H-3649.1/26) 2295 ADOPTED 03/04/2026 On page 3, line 20 of the striking amendment, after "procedures;" strike "and" On page 3, line 25 of the striking amendment, after "RCW 28A.
1st substitute bill substituted.
Student mobile device use
AN ACT Relating to improving student outcomes by restricting 1 mobile device use by public school students; adding a new section to 2 chapter 28A.600 RCW; and creating a new section. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that student use 5 of mobile devices in schools has had a multitude of negative effects 6 on student outcomes. Mobile devices can be a constant distraction 7 that disrupts the learning environment for all students. According to 8 a study from the London School of Economics and Political Science, 9 and as replicated by other researchers, the mere presence of a 10 smartphone by a neighboring student lowers a nonphone student's test 11 performance by about six percent.12 (2) The legislature further finds that mobile devices can 13 increase harm to students' mental health either by recording students 14 without consent or through increased cyberbullying. Washington 15 students are still recovering from the massive effects of school 16 closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including severe learning loss 17 and troubling trends in student mental health. 18 (3) The legislature intends to combat these effects with safer 19 and more engaging learning environments for students. While the 20 United States and nations around the world consider restricting 21 S-0584.1 SENATE BILL 5346 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senators Liias, Harris, Shewmake, Dozier, Bateman, Christian, Frame, Hasegawa, King, Krishnadasan, Lovick, Nobles, and Salomon Read first time 01/17/25. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education. p. 1 SB 5346 mobile devices for students, lessons can be learned from states and 1 school districts that have already implemented mobile device 2 restrictions. These lessons can be used to identify the best 3 strategies to implement a phone-free school environment with more 4 focus on academics, development of social skills, and students 5 engaging with each other. Therefore, it is the intent of the 6 legislature to restrict student use of mobile devices in public 7 schools during instructional hours using the strategy or strategies 8 recommended by the office of the superintendent of public 9 instruction, beginning in the 2026-27 school year.10 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 11 RCW to read as follows: 12 (1)(a) By December 15, 2025, and in accordance with RCW 13 43.01.036, the office of the superintendent of public instruction 14 shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature with:15 (i) A summary of the policies and procedures that have been 16 adopted by schools in Washington and in other states to limit student 17 mobile device use during instructional hours; 18 (ii) Recommendations for successful strategies for restricting 19 student mobile device use during instructional hours, which may 20 include limiting use: To specified time periods; to designated 21 locations; during particular activities; or by requiring students to 22 leave mobile devices at the front of the classroom or in an 23 administrative office, or to place mobile devices in a secure 24 container; and 25 (iii) Recommendations for exceptions to the student mobile device 26 restrictions. For example, exceptions could be made for certain 27 emergencies, students with certain disabilities, certain English 28 learner students, students with certain health conditions, or 29 instructional purposes. 30 (b) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 31 share draft recommendations with the Washington state school 32 directors' association as soon as practicable so that the association 33 can meet the deadline for developing a model policy and procedures 34 under subsection (2) of this section. 35 (2)(a) The Washington state school directors' association shall 36 develop a model policy and procedures for restricting student mobile 37 device use during instructional hours. The model policy and 38 p. 2 SB 5346 procedures must be informed by and aligned to the recommendations 1 contained in the report required by subsection (1) of this section.2 (b) The model policy and procedures required by this subsection 3 (2) must be posted publicly on the website of the Washington state 4 school directors' association beginning March 15, 2026.5 (3)(a) By the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, each school 6 district shall adopt a policy and procedures for restricting student 7 mobile device use during instructional hours. The policy and 8 procedures must be consistent with the model policy and procedures 9 developed under subsection (2) of this section. 10 (b) The policy and procedures required by this subsection (3) 11 must be shared with students and the parents and guardians of the 12 students at least annually. 13 (c) This subsection (3) governs school operation and management 14 under RCW 28A.710.040 and 28A.715.020 and applies to charter schools 15 established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-tribal education 16 compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW. 17 (4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 18 section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.19 (a) "Instructional hours" has the same meaning as in RCW 20 28A.150.205. 21 (b) "Mobile device" means any personal mobile telephone or other 22 portable electronic communication device with which a user engages in 23 a call or writes or sends a message, or any device in which the user 24 plays a game or watches a video, except that such term does not 25 include school-issued devices. 26 --- END --- p. 3 SB 5346