Which US states ban cell phones in schools?

More than half of US states now restrict student phone use. Texas, Florida and New York enforce full-day or near full-day bans, California requires every district to adopt its own policy by July 2026, and Illinois requires an instructional-time policy from 2026-27.

Do locking pouches meet state phone ban requirements?

Yes. State laws are almost always method-neutral or explicitly allow secure storage. A locking pouch keeps the phone with the student but sealed for the school day, which satisfies bell-to-bell and storage requirements without the school taking custody of student property.

How much do school phone pouches cost?

PhoneLock pouches are bought outright with a minimum order of 100 pieces. Pricing is quoted per order based on quantity and branding — unbranded pouches ship in about 2 weeks and branded large-quantity orders in 3-4 weeks.

United States

Cellphone pouches for USA schools

Every state is moving at a different speed. Some have a bell-to-bell ban written into statute, some require districts to write their own policy, and some have nothing but guidance. This directory tracks the law state by state, names the districts it affects, and explains how a locking pouch meets the requirement.

States tracked

Districts covered

3.3M+

Students affected

High school students unlocking phone pouches at wall-mounted magnetic key stations on their way out of a phone-free school — Dismissal at a phone-free campus: students release their own pouches at magnetic key stations by the exit.

State guides

Each guide covers the law, the bill number, the effective date, the exceptions and the districts we track in that state.

California

AB 3216 (2024) · Districts must adopt a policy by 1 July 2026

Districts must adopt a policy

~5.8 million students

California phone policy guide

Texas

HB 1481 (2025) · 2025-26 school year

Bell-to-bell ban

~5.5 million students

Texas phone policy guide

Florida

HB 379 (2023), extended by HB 1105 (2025) · 2023 for instructional time; extended 2025-26

Bell-to-bell ban

~2.9 million students

Florida phone policy guide

New York

FY 2026 State Budget (2025) · 2025-26 school year

Bell-to-bell ban

~2.4 million students

New York phone policy guide

Illinois

SB 2427 (2025) · 2026-27 school year

Instructional-day ban

~1.8 million students

Illinois phone policy guide

Other states we track

Full guides for these states are being written. If you need the detail for a specific state or district now, ask us and we'll send it.

Alabama

Bell-to-bell ban

Arizona

Instructional-day ban

Arkansas

Bell-to-bell ban

Colorado

Districts must adopt a policy

Connecticut

Statewide guidance

Delaware

Statewide guidance

Georgia

Instructional-day ban

Indiana

Instructional-day ban

Iowa

Instructional-day ban

Kentucky

Districts must adopt a policy

Louisiana

Bell-to-bell ban

Maryland

Statewide guidance

Massachusetts

Statewide guidance

Michigan

No state law

Minnesota

Districts must adopt a policy

Missouri

Bell-to-bell ban

Nebraska

Districts must adopt a policy

Nevada

Districts must adopt a policy

New Jersey

Districts must adopt a policy

New Mexico

Districts must adopt a policy

North Carolina

Instructional-day ban

North Dakota

Bell-to-bell ban

Ohio

Districts must adopt a policy

Oklahoma

Districts must adopt a policy

Oregon

Statewide guidance

Pennsylvania

Statewide guidance

South Carolina

Instructional-day ban

Tennessee

Districts must adopt a policy

Utah

Instructional-day ban

Virginia

Bell-to-bell ban

Washington

Statewide guidance

West Virginia

Instructional-day ban

Wisconsin

Districts must adopt a policy

How districts actually enforce a ban

Collection boxes and lockers

The school takes custody of the device. Cheap to start, but it creates loss and damage liability and a queue at the end of every day.

Staff-enforced rules

No hardware, no cost — and no consistency. Enforcement varies teacher to teacher and quietly collapses within a term.

Locking pouches

The student keeps their phone, sealed, all day. Unlocked in seconds at a magnetic key station on the way out. Bought outright and reused every year.

School procurement & compliance hub Yondr pouch alternative PhoneLock in the USA

Compliant storage for your whole district

MOQ 100 pcs. Unbranded in about 2 weeks, branded large quantities in 3-4 weeks. Buy outright and reuse every school year.

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