Governor Murphy signs law banning cellphone use in New Jersey schools

Governor Phil Murphy signed a law banning cellphone use in New Jersey schools to promote focused learning environments.

Murphy signed the bipartisan legislation on Thursday, January 8, 2026, during a visit to Ramsey High School in Bergen County.

The bill prohibits students in grades K-12 from using cell phones and other internet-enabled devices during regular school hours, on school buses, or at school-sanctioned events.

During his 2025 State of the State address, Murphy announced his intention to pursue phone-free schools in the Garden State; now that plan is in motion.

“With today’s bill signing, we are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens that detract from academic performance. In schools across our state, from Ramsey to Woodbury, we have seen the positive impact of phone-free policies,” Murphy said. “Teachers report that students are more focused, less anxious, and they are socializing and laughing with each other — not through a screen — but in hallways and classrooms.”

Murphy added, “By getting rid of needless distractions, we are fundamentally changing our schools’ learning environments and encouraging our children to be more attentive and engaged during the school day. This is a sensible policy that will make a world of difference for our children.”

Every New Jersey school district will now have to follow the lead of districts like Glassboro, which went phone-free about a year ago.

Andrea Locastro, who has been teaching in Glassboro for 28 years, weighed in.

“It has elevated instruction. It’s made it easier to connect with the kids,” Locastro told NBC10.

Locastro added, “I’ve seen an increase in student participation in the classroom. I’ve seen better performance, better grades. The more you unplug, the better their performance becomes.”

Some students who spoke to NBC10 even agreed.

“My grades have actually gotten way better,” one student shared. “When I used to have my phone, I used to be like unfocused. I have about 90s in most of my classes.”

Including New Jersey, 37 states and the District of Columbia now have laws or regulations limiting the use of phones and other electronic devices in schools.