LANSING, Michigan, Jan 16, 2026, 04:21 EST
- Michigan House passes House Bill 4141 to limit student smartphone use during instructional time.
- Districts and charter schools would have to adopt and publish enforcement policies, with exemptions for medical needs and emergencies.
- The proposal now moves to the Senate, with supporters aiming for implementation in the 2026-27 school year.
Michigan lawmakers moved a step closer to a classroom cellphone ban after the state House passed House Bill 4141 and sent it to the Senate. Sponsor Mark Tisdel said the state needs to “give kids their childhood back.” (WDIV)
The vote is the latest push to set a statewide floor on student phone use as more states tighten rules and districts wrestle with enforcement. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who made the issue a priority, said “other states — red and blue — have taken action,” and supporters are pressing for final votes “soon” in the Democratic-led Senate. (Chalkbeat)
The revised plan would cover traditional public districts and public school academies — Michigan’s term for charter schools — while leaving private and parochial schools out. Students could still carry basic phones that can call or text but not run apps like TikTok or Snapchat, and districts could adopt stricter rules than the baseline. (Bridge Michigan)
A House fiscal agency analysis said districts would have to adopt and post online a “wireless communications device” policy, including enforcement, covering phones and other gadgets that can text, call, browse the internet or run apps. It outlines tighter limits for younger grades than high school and requires exemptions for medical needs, disability accommodations and emergencies; it also notes Florida began statewide classroom limits in 2023 and other states have since adopted restrictions. (WWMT)
Supporters framed the bill as a reset for teachers who say they spend too much time refereeing screens. Democratic Rep. Matt Koleszar, a former teacher, said “I need you put your phone away” can come almost as often as “good morning.” (WWMT)
Opponents and skeptics have pushed back on how much Lansing should dictate school rules, pressing for district-by-district flexibility and clearer carve-outs. Tisdel told reporters he wants a “statewide standard,” arguing some districts hesitate to act alone when parents object. (Michigan Public)
House lawmakers also linked the phone measure to Senate Bill 495, which would amend Michigan’s emergency operations plan requirements and is categorized under education safety and cellular telephones on the Legislature’s site. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Dayna Polehanki and Darrin Camilleri. (Michigan Legislature)
Some districts have already been testing tougher limits without a state mandate. CBS Detroit reported Ann Arbor Public Schools reviewed restrictions after parents urged a districtwide policy, while Lake Orion Community Schools has put a cellphone-free policy in place. (CBS News)
In Lansing-area coverage, WILX quoted Grass Lake Schools Superintendent Nick Angel saying, “If you’re spending time policing cell phone use in class, then you’re not teaching.” Brenda Pilgrim of the Michigan Association of School Boards pointed to cyberbullying and said phones “take up class time,” while students interviewed raised concerns about being cut off during emergencies. (Wilx)
But the bill still must clear the Senate, and the hardest part may come after the votes — writing rules that stick, managing parent expectations, and deciding how strict “no phones” really is when school safety, medical needs and day-to-day classroom reality collide.
