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 had introduced his intent to pursue phone-free schools in the Garden State.

“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.”

The Cherry Hill school district already had its own ban on student cellphone use.