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In a move to enhance the educational environment for students, Governor Josh Stein has signed House Bill 959 into law, aiming to create distraction-free classrooms by banning cell phone usage during school hours. 

The legislation, which received bipartisan support, is designed to help students focus on learning without the interference of their personal devices. During the signing ceremony, Governor Stein highlighted the importance of enabling students to fully engage with their education. 

“When teachers don’t have to compete with cell phones for student attention, real learning happens,” he said. 

The governor emphasized that this legislation provides students with a crucial seven-hour mental break from the unrelenting pressures of phones and social media.

The initiative stems from recommendations made by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Student Safety and Well-being, which released its first report earlier this month. The report outlines best practices for implementing cell phone-free classrooms, serving as a valuable resource for school systems as they adapt to these new policies.

“This bill gives our students a chance to better focus on their education,” Stein said, expressing gratitude to the General Assembly for their collaborative efforts in advancing this common-sense approach. “Let’s keep working together to set up North Carolina students for success.”

In addition to House Bill 959, Governor Stein signed a total of 15 bills into law, addressing critical issues such as workforce development, healthcare, and childcare.