Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 8 signed S3695/A4882, calling it “one of the most consequential pieces of legislation” he’s signed during his two terms in office.
“This law will require every public school in New Jersey to implement a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones, period,” Murphy said in his opening remarks at Ramsey High School. “It is a historic victory for our educators, for parents and, most importantly … students.”
He added, “And I believe in the years to come, this proposal will be considered just as sensible as many laws that we take for granted today, [such as] requiring cars to come equipped with seat belts or prohibiting smoking on airplanes.”
The new law requires New Jersey’s education commissioner to publish guidelines on restricting students’ use of cellphones and other internet-enabled devices during regular school hours, on a school bus or during school-sanctioned events.
“It’s so easy to become consumed with our smartphones and other internet-enabled devices, responding to texts, scrolling through social media or playing video games — but those actions are not conducive to learning,” said AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins, who attended the bill signing in Ramsey. “Signing S3695/A4882 into law will help to minimize such temptations and distractions during school hours and keep students engaged with their classwork — and, equally as important, engaged with each other.”
