Georgia legislature extends cellphone ban to high schools

Caption

A student at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga., places their phone in a Yondr pouch on the first day of school, Aug. 5, 2024.

Credit: Liberty County School System

A bill banning Georgia high school students from using cellphones during the school day is headed to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk.

House Bill 1009 unanimously passed the Senate on Monday. 

Suwanee Republican Sen. Shawn Still, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said a ban could ensure students are able to focus on learning during school and develop better communication skills.

"They've forgotten and lost the ability to have interpersonal skills," he said. "And those are critical things that we all learned growing up that kids in this generation do not have."

The Legislature had already passed a ban on phones for students up to eighth grade last session. 

Each school can decide how it would like to enforce the ban, which goes into effect by July 2027.