TALLAHASSEE – State Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) has filed legislation to examine the impact of phone-free school campuses on student achievement and behavior.
Senate Bill 1296 establishes a pilot program in six Florida school districts that currently have or will be implementing a policy to prohibit the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day.
“Florida became a model for the rest of the nation when we first passed legislation in 2023 to remove cell phones from classrooms,” Burgess said. “I was proud to help spearhead that policy change, which has helped to remove distractions, improve focus during class time and increase student interaction. Now, I believe there is more we can do to further promote ideal learning environments to increase student achievement. By establishing phone-free school campuses, we can encourage students to connect more personally with each other and their teachers and better support their academic efforts.”
The Foundation for Florida’s Future highlighted the importance of the legislation.
“Schools should be places where students and teachers are free to focus on learning,” said Nathan Hoffman, senior legislative director for the Foundation for Florida’s Future. “Data continue to show that eliminating the cell phone distraction, not only in the classroom as Florida has in place now, but throughout the entire school day produces better outcomes – both from a school climate perspective as well as academic. This is important legislation that will keep the Sunshine State moving forward. We thank Senator Burgess for being the champion of this issue for all students and teachers in Florida.”
Florida law currently prohibits student cell phone use during instructional time. SB 1296 would require the Florida Commissioner of Education to coordinate with six school districts selected by the Florida Department of Education which represent two small, two medium and two large counties that currently, or will in the 2025-26 school year, implement a policy that prohibits the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day, while on school grounds or engaged in school activities off school grounds during the school day.
The department would be tasked with providing a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before Dec. 1, 2026, summarizing the effect of each district policy on student achievement and behavior.
The report must also include a model policy that school districts and charter schools may adopt and outline exceptions for health emergencies, disasters, students with disabilities and English Language Learners, on school buses, or during activities outside of the school day.
The report must also include student code of conduct provisions for violations of the policy which facilitate bullying or cheating, constitute illegal behavior, or capture pictures or video of another student during a medical episode.
