Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Phone-Free Schools Act on September 23, requiring California school districts to establish policies that restrict or ban student cellphone use by July 1, 2026. Districts will have to update their policies every five years thereafter. Aimed at curbing distractions and improving student well-being, the law allows flexibility for schools to determine their own rules but mandates restrictions to support learning. It provides exemptions for students with health needs or those in specific education programs and permits phone use during emergencies.