A bill that would keep most Utah students from using cellphones for the entire school day is now one step away from the governor's desk after winning approval in the state House.
Senate Bill 69, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, passed the Utah House on Wednesday in a 46–21 vote, extending current classroom-only limits to cover the full school day from the opening bell to dismissal.
The bill updates last year's law that set a default rule against student phone use during class time by broadening the restriction to include breaks, passing periods, and lunch. Supporters say the change is needed to cut down on constant digital distractions and to help students focus on learning and building in‑person relationships, according to KSL.
As amended in the House, SB69 now requires school districts to create a process allowing parents to request an accommodation so their child can "briefly" use a phone during non‑instructional time.
Those uses could include health needs, coordination with family or other special situations, though the bill keeps the default expectation that devices stay put away during the entire school day. Local education agencies would still be able to write their own policies and carve out additional exceptions, as long as those rules are adopted in public and comply with state law.
Rep. Doug Welton, R-Payson, a high school teacher who once opposed tighter phone limits, carried the bill in the House and argued that phone‑free days are already making a difference in his classroom, Utah reported.
He said students are more present, more engaged, and more resilient when their devices are not competing for their attention. Other educators in support told lawmakers that phones often interfere with instruction, lead to off‑task behavior, and make classroom management harder.
The bill still drew significant resistance, with 21 House members voting no, all Republicans. Critics warned that a statewide "bell‑to‑bell" restriction goes too far and undercuts local school boards that are already able to set their own device rules.
Rep. Troy Shelley, R-Ephraim, called SB69 one of his least favorite Senate bills and said it "oversteps" local authority. Some lawmakers also raised concerns that parents who want their children to have access to a phone for safety or personal reasons could find their choices limited by the new default policy.
Gov. Spencer Cox has previously urged lawmakers to adopt stronger "bell‑to‑bell" cellphone limits in schools, saying reduced phone use is key to student mental health and academic performance.
With SB69 now cleared by both chambers, only final procedural steps and the governor's signature remain before Utah's phone‑free school day policy could take effect statewide, as per deseret.
