Arizona Limits Cell Phone Use in Schools

By Mary Budinger / April 17, 2025

No more checking your social media while in class. Rep. Beverly Pingerelli (R-Peoria) sponsored legislation to limit access to wireless devices because “education requires attention, and attention is exactly what today’s students are being robbed of by addictive devices and endless scrolling.”

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed the bill, HB2484, into law April 14th . Last year, she vetoed a similar bill saying schools were already addressing the issue. However, she feels this year’s bill strikes a better balance.

HB2484 directs public and charter schools to:

• Govern student access to the internet
• Reduce access to social media platforms
• Limit use of wireless communication devices during the entire school day, including mealtimes, recess, and passing periods

The new rules apply to cellphones, tablets, and computers. Exceptions include emergencies,
medical necessities, and learning purposes as directed by teachers.

Arizona’s largest school district, Mesa Public Schools, already does not allow cell phone use during class without the express permission of the teacher. The Chandler Unified School District, Phoenix Elementary School District, Tucson Unified School District, and Apache Junction High School have similar restrictions in place. Phoenix Union High School District officials are reviewing it, and said they will follow state law.

For school districts that do not already have a policy in place, the law requires school districts to hold a public meeting to produce a policy.

Supporters of the bill said it was necessary to restore academic focus to Arizona’s classrooms and decrease cyberbullying. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said this bill has been one of his highest priorities. “No teacher should be required to teach a class where the students are scrolling on their phones.” He believes the law will ultimately improve test scores.

Rep. Pingerelli’s bill had strong bipartisan support. “I’m proud to see lawmakers from both sides agree: Education beats distraction every time,” she said. “We’ve drawn a clear line: Arizona classrooms are for learning, not TikTok.”

HB 2484 will take effect 90 days after this year’s legislative session concludes.

As of April 1, 17 states had adopted laws requiring schools to either ban or limit cell phone use in K-12 classrooms, according to Ballotpedia.

RESOURCES
“The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt: a 2024 book that talks about children’s brain development and how it is influenced by social media

“New Report Contradicts Telecom Industry Claim That Wireless Radiation Is Safe” – February 2025 scientific report outlines mechanism by which non-ionizing radiation can disrupt the biology of living systems

Mary Budinger is an Emmy award-winning journalist and a certified nutritional therapist practitioner (NTP). She lives in Phoenix, AZ, and writes about functional medicine and nutrition.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Health Defense, Arizona Chapter.