HARRISBURG — A statewide bell-to-bell ban on student cellphone use in Pennsylvania schools is one signature away from becoming law.

The state Senate voted 47-3 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to concur in House amendments to Senate Bill 1014. The House had passed the amended bill 141-62 on Monday, Oct. 19. The bill now goes to Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature. Shapiro has publicly urged lawmakers to send him a school cellphone ban.

The bill amends the Public School Code to add a "bell-to-bell phone-free policy" requirement. No later than the start of the 2027-2028 school year, the governing body of each school entity must adopt a policy that prohibits student use of mobile devices during the school day on school property and establishes how students' possession of devices will be restricted. How phones are secured during the day is left to each district.

The bill carves out exceptions, including students whose documented medical condition — their own or an immediate family member's — requires a device, students whose individualized education programs or 504 service agreements include a device as an accommodation, English learners using a phone for translation, limited teacher use of devices for instruction approved in advance by the principal, and other exceptions lasting no more than one school day that a principal may approve.

The bill was sponsored by Sens. Devlin Robinson (R-37), Vincent Hughes (D-7) and Steve Santarsiero (D-10). The version passed by the House folded in provisions from a companion bill by Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny County).

"We need to get cellphones out of our classrooms and let kids focus on learning," Robinson said. Steele added, "We're hitting back at Big Tech as they hold an entire generation captive to their phones."

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, praised the Senate's action. "This bill takes an essential step toward reducing distractions for students during class time and keeping lessons and teaching on track," PSEA President Aaron Chapin said. Chapin said the change would have a positive impact on student academic performance, student behavior and mental health.

School boards in the Conneaut, PENNCREST and Crawford Central districts will each have to adopt policies meeting the new standard before the 2027-28 school year. The bill is not yet law: it was signed in the Senate on Oct. 21 and awaits the governor's action.

Correction, Oct. 22, 2026: An earlier version of this story misquoted PSEA President Aaron Chapin and incorrectly presented a description of the bill's phone-storage requirement as a quotation from Rep. Mandy Steele. Both passages have been corrected, and the headline has been clarified: the requirement takes effect only if the governor signs the bill. Later the same day, the Post further corrected its summary of the bill's exceptions to match the bill text, including the exception for students with 504 service agreements, and removed a source link that did not support the quotation it was listed with.