Kansas lawmakers have taken steps this year to limit cellphone use both in schools and in some high-risk driving areas, citing concerns about student well-being and roadway safety.
Beginning with the next school year, students across Kansas will no longer be allowed to use cellphones during the school day after Gov. Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2299 into law.
The bipartisan measure requires public and private K-12 schools to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours. The ban covers cellphones, tablets, laptops, smart watches and wireless headphones. Students will still be allowed to use devices issued by their schools.
Under the law, students must power off personal devices and store them in an inaccessible location such as a locker or vehicle, although lawmakers said a powered-off phone stored in a backpack would also comply. School districts must establish their own enforcement policies and disciplinary procedures for students who violate the rules.
Students with medical needs or individualized education programs that require a device will be exempt.
“When our students’ mental health and academic performance are on the line, I felt strongly that a statewide solution was best,” Kelly said when signing the bill.
Supporters argue that limiting cellphone use in schools could help improve classroom focus and address growing concerns about the mental health effects of social media. Critics, however, say many districts already have policies in place and worry the law creates an unfunded mandate without providing schools additional resources to enforce it.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are also targeting cellphone use on the road. The Kansas Legislature has passed Senate Bill 324, which would prohibit drivers from using handheld cellphones while traveling through active school zones or construction zones.
If the bill is signed by Kelly, the restrictions would take effect July 1. During the first year, drivers would receive warnings rather than fines. Beginning July 1, 2027, violations would carry a $60 fine.
The proposal is backed by traffic safety advocates including AAA Kansas. Supporters say distracted driving contributes to about one-fourth of crashes in the state and that construction workers and children near schools face particular risks.
The law would apply only to handheld phone use, meaning drivers could still use hands-free systems or speakerphone functions. Exceptions would also allow drivers to use phones to contact emergency services.
Advocates say the measures represent incremental steps toward reducing distractions for both students and drivers across Kansas.