Missouri student cell phone ban signed into law
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed 13 bills into law on Wednesday, including a sweeping education bill that bans students from using cell phones in schools during the school day.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed 13 bills into law on Wednesday, including a sweeping education bill that bans students from using cell phones in schools during the school day.
Under the the new law, signed as Senate Bill 68, students will not be allowed to use their personal cell phones "from the beginning of the school day until the end of the school day."
The ban begins during the 2026-27 school year and applies for students between kindergarten and the 12th grades.
After the upcoming school year (2025-26), school districts and charter schools will be required to have a written policy on students' use of phones. That policy must include provisions prohibiting cellphone use during instructional time, mealtimes and between classes.
According to the bill, students can use phones during situations deemed as an "emergency." Exceptions outlined in the bill includes fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, active shooter events, evacuations and medical emergencies.
Students may also be allowed to use their devices if needed due to a disability, or for specific learning or medical purposes.
The legislation also leaves it up to individual school districts to determine the consequences for violations, rather than setting penalties at the state level.
An August 2024 SLU/YouGov poll found strong support for a statewide cell phone ban in Missouri schools, with 72% of respondents favoring a ban on high school students using phones during school hours. The poll also found support to be consistent across political lines.
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