Indiana Lawmakers Consider Banning Student Cell Phone Use in Schools

Proposed legislation would require students to leave phones at home or store them in secure devices during the school day.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The Indiana House Education Committee heard testimony on a bill that would ban students from using cell phones in schools altogether. Supporters of the bill, including a parent and a teacher, argued that unrestricted cell phone use is damaging to students and that setting firm boundaries would have powerful benefits. The committee chair said the bill makes sense to help students perform at their best, while another lawmaker expressed concerns about not giving schools enough flexibility. The superintendent's association supports the bill but would like to see more restrictions on social media use as well.

Why it matters

The proposed cell phone ban in Indiana schools is part of a broader debate around the role of technology and social media in education. Proponents argue that limiting distractions can improve academic performance, while critics say schools need flexibility to develop their own policies. The outcome of this legislation could set a precedent for other states considering similar measures.

The details

Senate Bill 78 would mandate that Indiana students either leave their cell phones at home or place them in secure storage devices at school for the entire school day. Supporters of the bill, including a parent named Ashley Thomas and a 7th-grade teacher named Marissa Tanner, argued that unrestricted cell phone use is harmful to students and that setting firm boundaries would have significant benefits. The House Education Committee chair, State Rep. Bob Behning, said the bill makes sense to help students perform at their best. However, State Rep. Ed DeLaney expressed concerns that the bill may not give schools enough flexibility to make their own policy decisions.

  • The Indiana House Education Committee heard testimony on the bill on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
  • A committee vote on SB 78 is expected next week.

The players

Ashley Thomas

A parent and supporter of SB 78 who wants her kids to have their childhood back for a few hours every day.

Marissa Tanner

A 7th-grade teacher at Northview Middle School who has seen firsthand the damage of unrestricted cell phone use and the benefits of setting firm boundaries.

Bob Behning

The Republican chair of the Indiana House Education Committee, who said the bill makes sense to help students perform at their best.

Ed DeLaney

A Democratic state representative who supports limiting cell phone use during instructional time but is concerned the bill may not give enough flexibility to schools.

Jeff Butts

The executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, who said his organization supports the bill but would like to see more restrictions on social media use.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just a mom who wants her kids to have their childhood back for a few hours every day.”

— Ashley Thomas, Parent and supporter of SB 78 (fox59.com)

“As both an educator and a parent, I've seen firsthand the damage unrestricted cell phone causes, and the powerful benefits that come from setting firm, consistent boundaries.”

— Marissa Tanner, 7th-grade teacher at Northview Middle School (fox59.com)

“I think it just makes sense. We want kids to be the best they can be; we want academics to be the best possible—getting rid of these distractions makes a lot of sense.”

— Bob Behning, Chair, Indiana House Education Committee (fox59.com)

“I think the local solutions are the better solutions. I don't want to create a situation where every year, the State Legislature has to amend some little thing about how you do or don't use cell phones in our schools.”

— Ed DeLaney, State Representative (fox59.com)

“The social media is what we're really concerned about. The research is clear: the dopamine drop that happens when students are scrolling through different social media apps is significant.”

— Jeff Butts, Executive Director, Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (fox59.com)

What’s next

A committee vote on SB 78 is expected next week.

The takeaway

The proposed cell phone ban in Indiana schools highlights the ongoing debate around the role of technology and social media in education. While supporters argue that limiting distractions can improve academic performance, critics say schools need flexibility to develop their own policies. The outcome of this legislation could set a precedent for other states considering similar measures.