Illinois to require bell-to-bell student phone ban in public schools

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Legislation to ban the use of cell phones by students from bell-to-bell officially passed both chambers in the Illinois Capitol on Sunday, sending the bill to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.

Having passed the Senate in April 2025, the governor urged lawmakers to progress it forward before the end of this session.

After months of disagreements and negotiations between lawmakers and stakeholders, leading to multiple amendments, the House voted to pass the measure in mid-April, when it was sent back to the Senate.

All was quiet on the bill until the final week of session, when it was assigned to the Senate Education committee.

According to Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin and one of the many Senate sponsors, changes to the plan include when and how the rule will be required to be implemented by school districts.

“[The amendment] moves the implementation date from 2026-2027 school year to 2027-2028 school year,” Castro said.

The senator also said the bill now allows school districts the option of partially excluding high school students from the ban, at least during lunch and passing periods, among other specifics.

“The policy must also provide an alternative for situations where the school is requiring a parent or guardian to retrieve the device from the school, but the parent or guardian is unable to appear in person, and requires the wireless communication device policy to be published in a student handbook if one exists,” Castro said.

Members of the committee did not have questions of the final form of the bill, which they sent to the Senate floor for a final vote before being passed.

Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, said she supports the aim of the bill before a final vote on the house floor, but she voted against the measure because it preempts local oversight.

Tracy was one of only two in the Senate to vote against the measure, with the other being Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport.

More than half of all states have passed laws similar to that of Illinois’, with many states also including funding for school districts to enforce the bans through solutions like school-provided lockable bags.

The Illinois plan does not include funding for the law’s implementation.

In the statewide law, many of the specifics as to how bans will be enforced are left up to local school boards, which now have roughly a full school year until they must adopt a policy that fits within the law’s minimum requirements.

The policy, according to the complete text, must prohibit students from using any personal phone, tablet, laptop, or other electronic devices during school hours. It must also provide guidance on how or where students must store devices – be it in their pockets, backpacks or lockers.

Many districts across the state have attempted to use such products, with some ultimately choosing to reverse course, despite spending taxpayer money on their initiatives.

The measure passed in a final vote of 55-2 in the Senate and also had near-unanimous support in the House.