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FLORIDA - Florida lawmakers are advancing legislation that would significantly tighten restrictions on student cellphone use in public schools, aiming to eliminate distractions and improve classroom environments.
House Bill 949, introduced by Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R–Coral Gables), would ban the use of cellphones and other wireless devices not just during instructional time—but for the entire school day.
The measure passed unanimously through the House Education & Employment Committee and now heads to the full House for consideration.
The proposal gives school districts the authority to designate specific areas where device use would be permitted, such as during lunch or in certain administrative zones.
Busatta Cabrera said the bill avoids overly specific definitions of “wireless devices” to allow flexibility for future technologies, while still making exemptions for medical devices.
A companion bill in the Senate, SB 1296, calls for a pilot program across six school districts of varying sizes.
The Florida Commissioner of Education would use the findings to create a statewide policy by the 2025–2026 academic year.
Supporters point to recent success stories, including Broward County Public Schools, where officials reported a 17% drop in student fights after implementing a strict cellphone ban.
School board member Dr. Allen Zeman credits the reduction in part to fewer opportunities for students to coordinate altercations or engage in cyberbullying.
While concerns about emergency communication persist, lawmakers argue the benefits of limiting device usage during school hours outweigh the drawbacks, and note that traditional methods of contacting students remain available.