Kansas Phone Ban (HB 2299): What the School Law Requires
Kansas requires public schools and state-accredited private schools to bar student phone use from the start of school to dismissal. Devices must be turned off and stored away from the student in an inaccessible location.
State lawsBy Brian Ohebshalom and Noah Fakheri, LockedIn’s co-founders
5 min read
Kansas school cell phone law: key facts
Enacted (bell-to-bell)- Statute or action
- HB 2299 (2026): "Bell to Bell, No Cell"
- Citation
- Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2299 (2026), new §§ 2–6
- Signed or issued by
- Gov. Laura Kelly,
- Takes effect
- In force on publication in the statute book (July 1, 2026); policies certified to the State Board by Sept 1, 2026
- Scope
- School day: start of school until dismissal, including classes, recess, lunch and passing periods
- Exceptions
- IEP or 504 plan, or physician-approved medical necessity, only as the intervention of last resort, School-designated phone for contacting a parent
- Enforcement
- Devices turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location; students may leave devices at home or in a vehicle
- Statute: Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2299 ("Bell to Bell, No Cell"), signed by Gov. Laura Kelly March 19, 2026
- Applies to public school districts and private schools accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education; virtual schools are exempt
- Devices must be turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location
- Covers phones, tablets, computers, watches, wireless headphones and earbuds
- Districts and accredited private schools had to certify their policies to the State Board by Sept 1, 2026
- Staff may not privately or directly message students on social media
Funding: Phone-free school grants and paste-ready application language.
Primary source: HB 2299 (2026): "Bell to Bell, No Cell"(opens in a new tab). Last verified . Not legal advice: confirm with your counsel.
Yes. Kansas has a statewide law on student phones in school. Kansas requires public schools and state-accredited private schools to bar student phone use from the start of school to dismissal. Devices must be turned off and stored away from the student in an inaccessible location.
What the Kansas school phone ban requires
- • Prohibit students from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices during the school day
- • Require devices to be turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location
- • Let students leave devices at home or in a vehicle, even one parked at school
- • Set enforcement procedures and disciplinary actions for violations
- • Allow use only when required by an IEP or 504 plan, or approved by a licensed physician as a medical necessity, and only as the intervention of last resort
- • Designate a school telephone or device students can use to contact a parent
- • Bar staff from privately or directly messaging students on social media or requiring social media for assignments or activities
- • Certify the adopted policies to the State Board of Education by Sept 1, 2026
The emergency wording for every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico is in school phone ban emergency exceptions by state.
The key provision, verbatim
“require that all personal electronic communication devices be turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location during the school day”
Source: Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2299 (2026), § 2(a)(2)
Timeline
- Gov. Laura Kelly signs Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2299
- Act takes effect on publication in the statute book
- Deadline to certify adopted device and social-media policies to the State Board of Education
Where phones must be kept
HB 2299 § 2(a)(2): policies must require devices to be "turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location during the school day"; students may instead leave them at home or in a vehicle.
Because Kansas's law turns on where the phone physically is, software on a student's phone does not by itself satisfy it. App-based locking, including LockedIn, can only add to the storage the law requires, not replace it.
Checklist for Kansas administrators
- Confirm your board or accredited private school certified its policies to the State Board (deadline Sept 1, 2026)
- Set up storage that keeps devices turned off, away from students and inaccessible from the start of school to dismissal
- Designate a school phone or device students can use to reach a parent
- Document each IEP, 504 or physician-approved exception and why it is the intervention of last resort
- Adopt the staff policy barring private or direct social-media messages to students
- Decide whether to extend the rules to school-sponsored events outside the school day
Frequently asked questions
Is there a phone ban in Kansas schools?
Yes. Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB 2299 prohibits students from using or accessing a cell phone or any other personal electronic communication device during the school day, from the start of school until dismissal, including class, recess, lunch and passing periods. A device brought to school must be turned off and securely stored away from the student in an inaccessible location. Students may instead leave devices at home or in a vehicle, including one parked at school. Each school sets the discipline. The act took effect on publication in the statute book. It covers public school districts and nonpublic schools accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education, including schools accredited by the State Board and another body. Virtual schools are exempt.
What is the Kansas school phone law?
HB 2299 requires each public school district and each nonpublic school accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education to prohibit students from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices during the school day, and to require that those devices be turned off and stored away from the student in an inaccessible location. It is not a crime. Each school sets enforcement and discipline.
Does Kansas have a school cell phone law?
Yes. HB 2299 (2026): "Bell to Bell, No Cell", signed by Gov. Laura Kelly on March 19, 2026, is a statewide law on student phones in school. Scope: School day: start of school until dismissal, including classes, recess, lunch and passing periods.
Is the Kansas bell to bell law in effect?
Yes. HB 2299 was signed March 19, 2026, took effect on publication in the statute book, and required schools to certify their policies to the State Board of Education by Sept 1, 2026.
Can Kansas students keep their phone in a backpack?
Not one they keep with them. The law requires devices to be turned off and securely stored away from the student's person in an inaccessible location; students may instead leave phones at home or in a vehicle, even one parked at school.
Does the Kansas phone law apply to private schools?
Yes, if the school is accredited by the Kansas State Board of Education, including schools accredited by the State Board and another body. Virtual schools are exempt.
What are the exceptions to the Kansas phone ban?
Use is allowed only when required by an IEP or 504 plan or approved by a licensed physician as a medical necessity, and only as the intervention of last resort. Schools must also designate a school phone students can use to call a parent.
Is it illegal to have your phone in school in Kansas?
It is not a crime. HB 2299 requires each school to set enforcement procedures and discipline for students who use or access a device during the school day.
How many states have school cell phone laws?
As of October 27, 2026, 44 states and D.C. have a statewide law, executive order or state board policy that requires public schools to restrict student phones or adopt a phone policy, and Kansas is one of them. 6 states have no statewide requirement.
Sources for Kansas
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 2299 (2026): "Bell to Bell, No Cell": official record(opens in a new tab)Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2299 (2026), new §§ 2–6
- Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2299 (2026), § 2(a)(2)(opens in a new tab)Quoted on this page
- KLRD 2026 summary of HB 2299(opens in a new tab)
- Kansas 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.