SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Just one year after the Illinois Legislature failed to pass a ban on cellphones in schools, Gov. JB Pritzker is asking lawmakers to come up with a stricter version of the proposal that would require all public and charter school districts to implement a ban that would last the entire school day.
The latest push was part of Pritzker’s State of the State address last week and came days later at a news conference in suburban Oak Park, where the two-term Democratic governor expressed cautious optimism that the latest version would pass the state Legislature this spring.
“This does harm, and it interferes with our ability to provide the most productive educational environment possible for our children. It’s time to get cell phones out of the classroom,” Pritzker said in his State of the Union address to bipartisan applause.
A tweaked version of the bill would require every public school district and charter school in Illinois to adopt a “bell-by-bell” policy that would prohibit K-12 students from using cellphones from the beginning of class until the last bell. The measure marks a shift from last year’s proposal, which focused solely on banning cell phone use during instruction. The bill would not require private schools to implement phone bans.
Rep. Michelle Mussman, a Democrat from Schaumburg and the bill’s lead House sponsor, said the change reflected lawmakers’ view that a full-day ban would be more effective than limiting cell phone use only in the classroom. The effort last session faced no opposition in the Illinois Senate but was never called for a vote in the House as lawmakers prioritized the $55.2 billion budget and other higher-priority measures in the final days of the session.
Mussman, who also chairs the House Education Policy Committee, said momentum stalled behind the scenes when some House members raised concerns about student safety and discipline. To alleviate concerns about unfair or discriminatory discipline, a new change would require districts to develop clear, consistent consequences for violations, she said. She added that other lingering concerns had also been addressed, namely whether the exclusions would result in some students with health conditions and those learning English being missed.
“We have been working closely with representatives who have expressed some concerns. Many of them have told us they believe their concerns have been adequately addressed,” Musman said. “Certainly, things can be unpredictable, but we do feel that we have been working hard to keep up and address all issues that are brought to our attention.”
The legislation retains mandatory exceptions included in last year’s proposal, allowing cellphone use for medical needs, students learning English, students receiving individualized education plans and students who are the primary caregivers of family members. School districts can allow cell phone use during lunch, emergencies or imminent threats, and for instructional purposes with teacher approval.
Before adopting a policy, school districts must develop storage guidelines and solicit feedback from teachers, students, parents and administrators. The policy will be reviewed at least every three years.
While some concerns remain, Pritzker said he is confident the bill can pass the House this session. The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on May 31.
“I believe we’re in really good shape,” Pritzker said at a news conference Friday at Oak Park and River Forest high schools. “But I’m more confident I can get this done than I was last spring.”
But the Illinois Federation of Teachers, one of the state’s largest unions, announced late last week its opposition to the mandate, arguing it would require districts to spend money on storage systems without state funding. IFT is currently led by Stacy Davis Gates, a progressive who is also the president of the Chicago Teachers Union. Since his election, the IFT has pushed Pritzker to adopt more progressive positions, including a millionaires tax.
“Schools already have the power to set cell phone policies, but what they can’t do is fund themselves or cell phone lockers or pockets to carry out this unfunded mandate,” IFT executive vice president Cyndi Oberle-Dahm said in a statement.
Providing secure, accessible cell phone storage for every student can be costly for school districts. Yondr bags, a popular school phone storage device, cost the Danville School District $70,000 in 2025 and nearly $250,000 for Peoria Public Schools the year before. The California-based company’s bags cost about $20 to $25 per student, with prices further varying based on school size and volume, Yondr spokesperson Liz Baker said in an email.
Musman said districts could use free or lower-cost alternatives, including storing cellphones in existing lockers at schools.
Like last year’s measure, Pritzker’s proposal does not specify how schools should implement the ban. It does prohibit schools from imposing fines, suspensions or expulsions simply to enforce policies, or from involving school resource officers or local law enforcement in violations.
Illinois will join a growing list of states restricting student cell phone use. According to the Associated Press, as of August 2025, 35 states have enacted laws restricting the use of cell phones in schools. Nationally, about 7 in 10 teachers say student distraction with cellphones is a major problem, according to the Pew Research Center.
Dozens of districts in Illinois have implemented some form of phone ban. At the start of the school year, Hinsdale School District 86 implemented a policy requiring students to place electronic devices in cellphone holders or other locations during class as directed by their classroom teachers. Glenbrook High School District 225 has banned cell phone use in classrooms since 2024. Champaign Unit 4 School District implemented a stricter ban on in-person classes that same year. Chicago Public Schools does not have a phone ban, but like other schools without a districtwide policy, individual schools are allowed to set their own standards for student phone use.
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——Olivia Olander contributed to this report.
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