Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

June 4, 2026

Cell Phone Restriction in Schools is About Student Success

With the benefit of extensive research, including House committee hearings, district-level surveys and ongoing discussions with local officials and constituents, I voted in favor of legislation establishing a bell-to-bell restriction on cell phone use in schools. It is important to emphasize that the proposal does not prohibit students from bringing cell phones to school or carrying them during the day, provided the devices remain powered off.

The proposal, House Bill 1814, directly addresses two urgent challenges facing our students today: declining mental health and increased classroom distraction.

The Pennsylvania Constitution makes clear that the Commonwealth has a responsibility to provide a “thorough and efficient system of public education.” That obligation is not just about funding – it is about ensuring students have a learning environment where they can focus, engage and succeed.

When constant digital distractions interfere with instruction, that constitutional standard is harder to meet. This legislation is a reasonable and necessary step toward upholding that responsibility.

Research and classroom experience make it clear that constant access to personal mobile devices interferes with students’ ability to focus, learn and meaningfully engage with their peers. The average teenager receives hundreds of notifications a day – often multiple during a single class period – which significantly disrupts attention and academic performance.

Beyond distraction, increased phone use has been linked to higher rates of cyberbullying, anxiety and social isolation. While this policy alone will not solve the broader mental health crisis, it gives students a structured school day with fewer distractions and more opportunities for face-to-face interaction.

The bill also reflects strong, broad-based support from both educators and the public. Polling shows that approximately 72% of Pennsylvania voters support a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools. Among educators, support is even stronger. About 84% of Pennsylvania teachers favor a full school-day restriction.

As previously printed in this column, here in our communities, roughly 70% of those who responded to a survey supported restricting cell phone use during instructional time, reinforcing the need for a commonsense step supported by the community.

Importantly, this bill strikes the right balance between statewide consistency and local control. By establishing a clear expectation that cell phone use will be restricted during the school day, school districts will have the flexibility to determine how best to implement and enforce that policy. Schools can adopt approaches that work for their communities, whether that means secure storage, powered-off devices, or other systems such as allowing students to keep their cell phone in their backpack throughout the school day if they are turned off.

The legislation also includes practical, limited exceptions for educational use when approved by the principal and ensures parents are informed about school policies and how to communicate with their children during the day. Concerns about emergencies are understandable, but safety experts and law enforcement have made clear that unrestricted phone use during crises can create confusion, spread misinformation and interfere with first responders.

The goal with House Bill 1814 is not to punish learners, but instead to create an environment where teachers can teach, learning can thrive and students can reach their academic potential.

Nearly 24 states have adopted bell-to-bell restrictions on cellular phone use during the school day and the topic has been supported by Gov. Josh Shapiro on several occasions. The proposal passed in a bipartisan manner,126-75, and now heads to the Senate, which passed a similar bill, Senate Bill 1014,  in February. 

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Mark Your Calendars for a Telephone Town Hall – Please be sure to join me for a telephone townhall on Monday, June 15, from 4-5 p.m. to discuss all things energy, as well as data centers. We are also likely to delve into other topics, such as Pennsylvania’s budget. Automated calls will be made minutes before the event, but you also may call in directly at 877-229-8493 and use ID code 122184.

Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications - The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its fall 2026 semester. 

The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.

Qualified applicants must be undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For more information or to apply, visit pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply for the fall term is July 1.

Junior Game Warden Camps Provide Hands-On Learning - The Pennsylvania Game Commission is holding one-day Junior Game Warden Camps across the Commonwealth, providing those who attend a structured, fun-filled day learning about the career of a Pennsylvania state game warden. 

The event closest to us is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711 in Bolivar. Registration limited to 40 participants.

Campers will spend the day with game wardens, gaining insight into the job and the Game Commission’s mission of managing and protecting the state’s wildlife and habitats while promoting hunting and trapping. Campers will join wardens in light physical fitness activities, confidence-building exercises, hands-on learning stations and more. 

The program is open to youths ages 12-15 who have not attended a camp held previously. Registration can be completed online by visiting register-ed.com/programs/pennsylvania/224-youth-camps.  



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com