New Jersey schools will soon see tighter restrictions on student cellphone use following the signing of new bipartisan legislation by Phil Murphy on Wednesday.
Murphy signed the bill during a visit to Ramsey High School in Bergen County, formally requiring all public school districts across the state to adopt policies limiting the use of cell phones and other internet-enabled devices in K–12 classrooms.
The governor first unveiled the initiative during his 2025 State of the State address and has since promoted phone-free school environments as a way to improve student focus and well-being.
“With today’s bill signing, we are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens,” Murphy said. He pointed to reports from schools already using phone-free policies, where teachers say students are more attentive, less anxious, and more socially engaged with one another.
Under the new law, the state Commissioner of Education must publish updated guidelines governing student use of personal devices during the school day, on school buses, and at school-sanctioned events. Local boards of education will then be required to adopt policies aligned with those statewide standards. The policies must prohibit non-academic use of personal devices on school grounds, with limited exceptions.
The New Jersey Department of Education is currently reviewing its existing guidance and expects to release updated rules by mid-January, developed in consultation with educators and other stakeholders. The guidelines will address secure device storage, staff training, and consistent enforcement.
District-level policies will take effect in the 2026–2027 school year.
State officials say research shows that limiting cellphone use can boost academic performance—particularly among struggling students—and reduce mental-health risks linked to excessive social media use.
