Cellphone use in Georgia’s high school classrooms is a step closer to being banned statewide after lawmakers approved new legislation Tuesday.
The Georgia House of Representatives voted 145 to 20 to pass House Bill 1009, which would restrict student access to personal electronic devices throughout the school day.
Under the bill, students in kindergarten through 12th grade would be prohibited from “bell-to-bell” access to cellphones and other personal electronic devices. The legislation also requires schools to establish secure storage methods for the devices, such as lockers, locked pouches, or designated areas within classrooms.
The proposal builds on previous action by the Georgia General Assembly. In 2025, lawmakers passed House Bill 340, known as the Distraction-Free Education Act, which banned cellphone use for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. That measure was signed into law on May 9, 2025, by Brian Kemp.
Supporters of the new bill say expanding the restriction to high schools will help reduce distractions and improve student focus in the classroom.
House Bill 1009 now moves to the Georgia State Senate for consideration. If approved there and signed by the governor, the policy would apply to schools statewide.