This week, Governor Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation banning cellphones in classrooms across the state. She first called for these reforms in her 2025 State of the State Address, and the legislature has since worked in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to negotiate an agreement that all parties could agree to.
Key Points:
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- Senate Bill 496 and House Bill 4141 were introduced by Senator Danya Polehanki (D-Livonia) and Representative Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills), respectively.
- The prohibition on cell phone use applies to instructional time and allows for use during non-instructional time between classes and during lunch.
- It requires all public school districts to implement cell phone policies to reduce student usage and distractions in the classroom.
- The proposal allows for a few exemptions, including old-school flip phones, medical exceptions, and during emergencies.
- Schools could implement stricter cellphone-use policies if they choose.
“I’m proud to sign these bipartisan bills that will help prioritize academic success and support youth mental health,” said Governor Whitmer. “We know that when students put their phones down, their grades go up. These bills will help keep kids focused in the classroom and break their growing dependency on screens and social media. We could all benefit from looking up at the world instead of down at our phones.”
