Connecticut HB 5035: AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.

Bill Text

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General Assembly  
Substitute Bill No. 5035  
February Session, 2026 
 
 
 
 
AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR 
PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.  
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of Representatives  in  General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2027) (a) As used in this section: 1 
(1)  "Wireless  communication  device"  means  any portable  wireless 2 
device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging or other data 3 
communication between two or more parties, including, but not limited 4 
to, a (A) cellular phone, (B) tablet, (C) computer, (D) gaming device, or 5 
(E) smart watch. "Wireless communication device" does not include any 6 
technology provided by the school district for instructional purposes; 7 
(2) "School day" means the time between the scheduled start and end 8 
times of the days in the local or regional board of education's academic 9 
calendar for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive; and 10 
(3)  "Access"  means  viewing,  wearing  or  otherwise  using  a  wireless 11 
communication device for the purpose of communication, accessing the 12 
Internet,  gaming  or  any  other  function  commonly  associated  with  a 13 
wireless communication device. 14 
(b)  (1)  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  subdivision  (2)  of  this 15 
subsection, no student in a public school in the state shall be permitted 16 
to  access  such  student's  wireless  communication  device  on  school 17 
property  during  the  school  day  unless  such  access  is  authorized  for 18 

Substitute Bill No. 5035 
 
 
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instructional purposes. All such devices shall be powered off and stored 19 
in  a  manner  prescribed  by  the  local  or  regional  board  of  education, 20 
including,  but  not  limited  to,  in  a  student's  locker  or  in  a  specified 21 
location. 22 
(2)  A  student  in  a  public  school  in  the  state  may  use  or  access  a 23 
wireless communication device during the school day if (A) such use or 24 
access   is   required   under   such   student's   individualized   education 25 
program, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education 26 
Improvement Act of 2004 and sections 10-76a to 10-76ooo, inclusive, of 27 
the general statutes, or is necessary to implement the provisions of an 28 
accommodations  plan  for  such  student  pursuant  to  Section  504  of  the 29 
Rehabilitation  Act  of  1973,  as  amended  from  time  to  time,  for  such 30 
student,  or  (B)  a  licensed  physician,  physician  assistant  or  advanced 31 
practice registered nurse determines that such use or access is necessary 32 
for the health and well-being of such student. 33 
(c)  No  student  in  a  public  school  in  the  state may access  any  social 34 
media platforms through the use of the Internet provided by the school 35 
during the school day, except such access to a social media platform may 36 
be permitted when such access is for instructional purposes. 37 
(d) Each local and regional board of education shall develop policies 38 
and procedures for the implementation of the provisions of this section. 39 
Such policies and procedures shall include, but need not be limited to, 40 
procedures   for   communicating   between   boards   of   education   and 41 
parents  and  guardians  of  students  in  the  event  of  an  emergency  that 42 
occurs during the school day and disciplinary procedures for violations 43 
of the provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of this section. 44 
(e) Each local and regional board of education shall annually notify 45 
the  parents  and  guardians  of  students  regarding  the  policies  and 46 
procedures described in subsection (d) of this section and include such 47 
policies and procedures in the student handbooks for the school district. 48 

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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 
July 1, 2027 
New section 
 
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:   
In Subsec. (c), "shall be permitted to" was changed to "may" for clarity. 
 
ED Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO