Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed legislation that directs school districts across the state of California to draft and implement policies that will limit students' use of cell phones during the school day.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a bill that requires school districts to adopt policies restricting or prohibiting students’ use of smartphones during the school day. “We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety,

A growing list of states and schools are now banning or restricting cell phones. Johns Hopkins experts Carol Vidal and Annette Anderson explain the research and weigh in on the controversial policies.

Under the new law, California elementary and secondary schools have until 2026 to implement guidelines to reduce smartphone usage. The rules can be relaxed in case of emergencies or health issues.

Gov. Newsom signed the Phone-Free Schools Act into law. It requires California school districts to draft policies restricting or banning student cellphone use.

School districts in California will have to create rules restricting student smartphone use under a new law Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Monday. The legislation makes California the latest state to try to curb student phone access in an effort to minimize distractions in the classroom and address the mental health impacts of social media on children.

Calls for crackdowns have mounted with reports of cyberbullying and studies indicating that smartphones are harmful to children’s mental health.