Oklahoma legislature sends permanent school cellphone ban to Gov. Stitt’s signature

The Oklahoma House and Senate have officially approved House Bill 1276, moving the state one step closer to a permanent ban on student cellphone use during school hours.

Known as the “Bell to Bell No Cell” policy, the legislation now heads to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk for his signature.

Originally introduced as a pilot program in 2025, the policy requires school boards to prohibit cellphone use on campus throughout the instructional day. Legislators advanced the permanent measure following what they described as overwhelmingly positive feedback from teachers and parents.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert noted that the ban has led to increased student interaction, remarking that “hallways are loud again” and students are engaging with one another rather than screens.

Addressing safety concerns, the bill includes mandatory exceptions for emergencies and documented medical needs. It also grants local school districts flexibility in how they choose to enforce the policy.

House Education Appropriations Chairman Chad Caldwell and Senator Ally Seifried, the bill’s authors, emphasized that removing social media distractions is a critical step in improving academic focus and long-term educational outcomes across the state.

“With fewer distractions from cellphones and social media, students are engaged and focused on their schoolwork again,” Seifried said, “Making this permanent is the right move for Oklahoma kids, and I look forward to seeing academic outcomes continue to improve the longer this policy is on the books.”