California schools must curb student phone use under new law

Governor signed a law on Monday requiring state schools to create rules to restrict student cellphone use by 2026

School districts in California will have to create rules restricting student smartphone use under a new law that the state's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, signed on Monday.

The law requires districts to pass rules by 1 July 2026 to limit or ban students from using smartphones on campus or while they are under the supervision of school staff. Districts will have to update their policies every five years after that.