LANSING, MI (WTVB) – In a significant move to curb classroom distractions, the Michigan House voted 99-10 Wednesday to approve a statewide ban on student smartphone use during instructional time.
The bipartisan legislation, House Bill 4141, requires all public and charter schools to implement policies prohibiting smartphone access in the classroom by the start of the next school year.
While the bill allows for exceptions during emergencies and for medical needs, it aims to establish a statewide floor for digital safety, allowing individual districts to set even stricter “bell-to-bell” policies if they choose.
The statewide push follows the successful early implementation of a similar ban in the Coldwater Community Schools which enacted a strict “bell-to-bell” policy at the start of the current 2025-2026 school year.
Under the Coldwater policy, students must store devices in their lockers from 7:45 a.m. until the final bell at 2:27 p.m..
School officials reported late last year that the measure has already yielded positive results, including a dramatic decrease in fights and a significant reduction in defiance referrals, as students engage more in face-to-face interactions rather than social media-driven conflicts.
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