School Cellphone Ban Gets Another Push From Pritzker: Report

With his annual State of the State and Budget Address scheduled for Wednesday in Springfield, Gov. JB Pritzker is hoping a bill that would ban cellphones in Illinois schools continues to gain support from state lawmakers.

Last year, Senate Bill 2427 was passed in the Illinois State Senate unanimously by a vote of 55-0, but then stalled in the House, and was never passed. The bill in its original form would require all school districts and charter schools in the state to restrict the use of cellphones in classrooms for the 2026-2027 school year.

On Tuesday, members of the Illinois House began discussing amendments to the bill intended by supporters to reignite movement on the legislation. ABC7 is reporting Pritzker announced his continued support of Senate Bill 2427 prior to the State of the State address.

According to Pritzker's office, the originally proposed bill would require districts to implement a ban on personal phone use during instructional periods, with the following exceptions:

• In the event of an emergency or in response to an imminent threat.
• When a teacher or instructor has authorized the student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes — e.g. Chromebook use, technology-based activities, etc.
• When a licensed physician determines that the possession or use of a wireless communication device is necessary for the health or well-being of the student.
• To fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan.
• When the wireless communication device is necessary for students who are English learners to access learning materials, participate in class or otherwise facilitate communication.

"It's imperative that the state set students up to achieve their full potential – not just by investing in them, but by fostering a healthy and productive classroom environment," Pritzker said last year. "Study after study has demonstrated the benefits of a ban on classroom use of cell phones not just on student performance – but on overall health and wellbeing. This legislation will allow our teachers to focus on what matters most – delivering a quality education that opens up opportunity for kids across the state."

RELATED: Cellphones To Be Banned During Class Time In MI K-12 Public Schools This Fall — What To Know

Meanwhile, in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill last week that will ban K-12 students across the state from using their cellphones in class. As reported by Patch, the legislation requires all public school districts to create their own policies by next fall that will prohibit students from using their cellphones during class time, except for medical reasons and emergencies.

Traditional flip phones (that cannot access the internet) will also still be allowed, though schools can go further and enact their own stricter cellphone-use-policies if they choose.

With Michigan's passage, 41 states had enacted laws or policies on K-12 classroom or school cellphone usage, with 32 banning or limiting cellphones in classrooms, reports Ballotpedia.

To illustrate Pritzker's support of the bill, his office pointed to a Pew research study in which 72 percent of high school teachers identified cell phone distraction as a "major problem" in their classroom. A number of school districts, including Champaign, Springfield and Peoria, as well as parts of the Chicago area, have implemented policies limiting cell phone use.

A separate Pew study released earlier this year found that 4 in 10 teenagers also support a ban on cellphones in the classroom.

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