Tennessee State Senator Todd Gardenhire and State Representative Dan Howell have introduced a bill to ban cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices in classrooms, citing student distraction and declining grades.
The proposed legislation sets different rules based on grade levels. Students through eighth grade would be required to keep devices off all day, while high school students would only need to keep them off during instructional time.
Exceptions would be made for lessons requiring the use of electronic devices with teacher approval.
If passed, the bill would take effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year.