Does Connecticut Ban Phones in School? (2026 Status)
Connecticut has no statewide school phone law. HB 5035, a bell-to-bell ban, passed the House 117–31 on April 27, 2026 but got no Senate vote before the session ended May 6. In August 2026 the State Board of Education adopted non-binding guidance recommending bell-to-bell policies.
State lawsBy Brian Ohebshalom and Noah Fakheri, LockedIn’s co-founders
3 min read
Connecticut school cell phone bill: key facts
Bill failed (2026)- Statute or action
- HB 5035 (2026, House-passed; died in Senate)
- Signed or issued by
- No Senate vote before the 2026 session ended (May 6, 2026)
- Scope
- Bell-to-bell (proposed; not enacted)
- Exceptions
- IEP/504 plans (as proposed)
- Enforcement
- N/A: bill did not pass Senate
- Bill: HB 5035, proposed at Gov. Ned Lamont's request: passed the House 117–31 on April 27, 2026
- Status: no Senate vote before the session ended May 6, 2026
- Proposed scope: no student phone use on school grounds during the school day; storage left to districts
- Aug. 5, 2026: State Board of Education guidance strongly recommends bell-to-bell policies (non-binding)
- Gov. Lamont and legislative leaders say they plan to try again in 2027 (CT Mirror)
Funding: Phone-free school grants and paste-ready application language.
Primary source: HB 5035 (2026, House-passed; died in Senate)(opens in a new tab). Last verified . Not legal advice: confirm with your counsel.
No. Connecticut has no statewide school phone law. HB 5035, a bell-to-bell ban, passed the House 117–31 on April 27, 2026 but got no Senate vote before the session ended May 6. In August 2026 the State Board of Education adopted non-binding guidance recommending bell-to-bell policies.
Where Connecticut stands
- • None at the state level. Local and regional boards of education set their own phone policies; the State Board's August 2026 guidance is a recommendation, not a requirement.
The emergency wording for every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico is in school phone ban emergency exceptions by state.
Timeline
- HB 5035, proposed at Gov. Ned Lamont's request, referred to the Education Committee
- House passes HB 5035 as amended, 117–31
- Senate moves the bill to the foot of its calendar
- Session ends with no Senate vote; the bill dies
- State Board of Education adopts non-binding guidance recommending bell-to-bell policies
Storage rules
Connecticut has no statewide rule on where student phones are kept; HB 5035 would have left storage to districts, and each local board decides today.
Some schools back a written policy with phone-management software such as LockedIn: students' own phones lock automatically on campus during school hours and unlock after school, with no pouches or hardware; the admin dashboard flags workarounds by student name, such as a possible uninstall or a new device awaiting approval; and in an emergency, one tap from an administrator starts Emergency Mode on every phone on campus. Software does not replace a written board policy; have counsel review any tool that handles student device data.
Checklist for Connecticut administrators
- Review your district policy against the State Board's Aug. 5, 2026 position statement, which recommends bell-to-bell restrictions (non-binding).
- Decide locally whether to restrict phones for the full school day or only during class; no state deadline applies.
- Include individualized exceptions for IEPs, Section 504 plans and individualized health care plans, as the State Board guidance recommends.
- Watch for a renewed statewide bill in the 2027 session.
Frequently asked questions
Is Connecticut one of the states without a school phone ban?
Yes. As of October 27, 2026, Connecticut is one of 6 states with no statewide law or order requiring public schools to restrict student phones. Connecticut has no statewide school phone law. HB 5035, a bell-to-bell ban, passed the House 117–31 on April 27, 2026 but got no Senate vote before the session ended May 6. In August 2026 the State Board of Education adopted non-binding guidance recommending bell-to-bell policies.
Does Connecticut have a law banning phones in school?
No. HB 5035, Gov. Ned Lamont's bell-to-bell proposal, passed the House 117–31 on April 27, 2026 but never got a Senate vote before the session ended May 6, 2026. Phone rules are set by each local or regional board of education.
Is it illegal to have your phone in school in Connecticut?
No. There is no state law on student phone use at school. Your school or district policy decides when phones are allowed and what the consequences are.
What did the Connecticut State Board of Education recommend in 2026?
On Aug. 5, 2026 the State Board adopted a position statement that "strongly recommends" district policies restricting student use of personal technology "from the beginning to the end of the school day." It is guidance, not a requirement.
Will Connecticut pass a school phone ban in 2027?
Gov. Lamont and legislative leaders have said they plan to bring the ban back next year, according to CT Mirror. The next regular session opens in January 2027.
Sources for Connecticut
Phone rules change with new bills, administrative rules and local board policy. Checked against these sources on . Not legal advice: confirm with counsel before you adopt policy language.
- HB 5035 (2026, House-passed; died in Senate): bill record(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- House roll call 101 on HB 5035, April 27, 2026 (117–31)(opens in a new tab)
- State Board of Education position statement, Aug. 5, 2026(opens in a new tab)
- CT Mirror, Aug. 5, 2026: new state guidance and 2027 plans(opens in a new tab)
- Connecticut General Assembly(opens in a new tab)Statutes and session bills
- Connecticut State Department of Education(opens in a new tab)State K–12 education agency
Compare every state: which states ban phones in school, or find your state’s education agency through the U.S. Department of Education’s state contacts.