Maryland phone-free school bill (2026): Maryland's General Assembly passed the Joanne C. Benson Phone-Free Schools Act (HB 525) on April 11, 2026. As of May 7, 2026, the bill has not been independently confirmed as signed by Gov. Wes Moore; under Maryland procedure it is expected to become law via s
Maryland has an active phone-free school bill moving through the legislature. HB 525 (2026) — Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act (passed both chambers; awaiting Gov. Moore action) would require Maryland schools to adopt phone restrictions starting 2027–28 school year (if enacted). While the bill is pending, Maryland districts retain full authority to set their own phone policies — and many already have.
What Maryland's Proposed Phone Bill Would Require
- • Bill: HB 525, the Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act
- • Passed General Assembly: April 11, 2026
- • Status as of May 7, 2026: awaiting governor signature or auto-enactment
- • Proposed effective: 2027–28 school year
- • Proposed scope: bell-to-bell, including lunch and recess
- • Covers: cell phones, smartwatches, wireless earbuds
Why Maryland Schools Are Acting Now
Even without a state mandate, Maryland districts that move proactively report fewer disciplinary referrals, higher classroom focus, and stronger parent communication. Waiting for legislation often means scrambling later.
Three enforcement models
- • Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): high per-student cost, daily distribution logistics, and limited compliance data.
- • District storage (lockers, cubbies, classroom caddies): lowest cost but relies on staff to police compliance.
- • Device-level software (LockedIn): OS-level locking, geofencing, and automated compliance reporting — no daily logistics.
Why Maryland schools choose LockedIn
LockedIn is a software-based phone-free campus solution built for Maryland's schools. It provides
OS-level device locking,
campus geofencing, real-time monitoring, and automated compliance reports — exactly what Maryland administrators need to demonstrate that the policy is being enforced. Unlike physical pouches, there's no hardware to lose, replace, or distribute. See our full
comparison of phone-free campus solutions or the
LockedIn vs Yondr pouches guide.
What's new in 2026
Maryland's Joanne C. Benson Phone-Free Schools Act (HB 525) passed the General Assembly on April 11, 2026.
It is one of the broadest state laws in the country — covering not just cell phones but also smartwatches and wireless
earbuds, with bell-to-bell scope including lunch and recess. The 2027–28 effective date gives districts time to design
compliant policies; smart districts are deploying enforcement during 2026–27 to test what works.
Verify the law in Maryland
Read the primary source — HB 525 (2026) — Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act (passed both chambers; awaiting Gov. Moore action) — and confirm the latest guidance with your state agency before adopting policy.
See our complete phone-free school laws by state directory for legislation updates across all 50 states + DC.
Get started
Maryland schools can be phone-free in less than a day with LockedIn. Use our free phone-free school policy generator to draft a compliant policy, then contact our team to deploy district-wide.