Illinois House Committee Advances Cell Phone Ban Bill to Require Bell-to-Bell Policy in Schools
The Illinois House Education Policy Committee unanimously recommended Senate Bill 2427 for adoption Wednesday, sending it to the House floor for a second reading. The bill would require school boards across Illinois to adopt a bell-to-bell policy banning students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time throughout the entire school day on or before the 2026-27 school year.
The legislation takes advantage of a bipartisan, nationwide trend limiting device use in classrooms. Currently, more than 25 states have statewide policies enforcing bell-to-bell restrictions. Illinois is one of 14 states that does not currently require school districts to have a policy restricting cell phone use.
The bill passed unanimously by the State Senate last April but stalled in the House and was not called to the floor before the end of the previous legislative session. The House committee approval brings it back for potential floor action.
The Policy and Exceptions
The bill would amend the School Code to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time throughout the school day. These devices include cell phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices and smart watches.
The policy includes several exemptions, including when an instructor has authorized students to use devices for educational purposes, in response to an emergency, and when a licensed physician determines that a device is necessary for the well-being of the student.
How securely to store devices is left to the discretion of school boards, with public input on the new policies being required according to the bill text.
Bipartisan Support
State Sen. Laura Fine, a Democrat from Glenview, called the legislation bipartisan and focused on childrens education and mental health safety. She noted the focus is on what works for kids regardless of political affiliation.
The bill follows Gov. J.B. Pritzkers call for cell phone restrictions in his 2025 State of the State address. Rep. Lindsey Volz, a legislative advisor with the Governors Office, testified that schools can allow exceptions in the case of an emergency, with implementation details left to individual districts.
Enforcement and Implementation
Rep. Adam M. Niemerg, a Republican from Dieterich, questioned whether the bill provides specific enforcement mechanisms and if any schools already have policies in place have voiced opposition.
Enforcement actions are largely up to schools, but the bill prohibits certain punishments like fines and expulsion over phone use. Rep. Michelle Mussman, a Democrat from Schaumburg, noted enforcement would be limited and schools would be allowed to keep their existing cell phone policies in place. She said the earliest they could change their policies is the 2030-31 school year.
Local Implementation Already Underway
Districts in Illinois have already started spending on solutions. Peoria Public Schools spent nearly quarter of a million dollars in 2024 on device storage solutions.
Evanston Township High School tightened its cell phone policy in June 2024, requiring students to place their devices in a phone storage unit at the beginning of class. High school students can still access their personal devices during passing periods and lunchtime.
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 implemented a bell-to-bell policy at the start of the current school year, prohibiting elementary school students from accessing personal devices throughout the entire school day. Middle school students are allowed to carry devices with them as long as they are turned off and not seen on school grounds.
Parent Advocacy
Screen Sense Evanston, a parent-led advocacy coalition concerned with technology use in the classroom, advocates for more restrictions in Evanston/Skokie School District 65.
Willard Elementary School parent Miriam Kendall, who leads Screen Sense Evanston, said it is not fair to expect children and adolescents to be able to self-regulate and have the level of self-control to resist intentionally addictive devices.
The group formed after parents concerned with excessive screen time and device usage came together to host educational events and community meetings. Last year, the group ran a community book club on The Anxious Generation by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, which focuses on the shift to a phone-based childhood and rise in mental health issues among adolescents.
Funding Questions
The bill does not allocate any funds for implementation. New York allocated $13.5 million for implementation of its ban, primarily to buy magnetic phone lockup bags.
Rep. Laura Faver Dias, a Democrat from Grayslake, questioned Lindsey Volz during committee testimony about how the bill would address students access to phones in the event of an emergency at school.
Volz responded that schools can allow exceptions if they choose to in the case of an emergency, and it is up to the school districts on how the phone is stored as well. She said it might be as simple as reaching into their backpack or going to their locker.
What Comes Next
The House Education Policy Committee unanimously recommended the bill be adopted, sending it to the House floor for a second reading later the same day. The bill now moves toward potential floor action for full House consideration.
If passed by the House, the bill would then go to the Senate for consideration. The Senate already passed the bill unanimously last April.
Screen Sense Evanston and other parent groups are eager to see the legislation advance and implement a statewide policy on device use in schools.