Massachusetts phone-free school bill (2026): The Massachusetts Senate passed a bell-to-bell bill in July 2025; the House debated a broader bill covering social media in April 2026. Here's what administrators need to know about compliance, scope, and enforcement.
Massachusetts has an active phone-free school bill moving through the legislature. S 2561 (2025, Senate-passed); House version moved to vote April 2026 would require Massachusetts schools to adopt phone restrictions starting 2026–27 school year (if enacted). While the bill is pending, Massachusetts districts retain full authority to set their own phone policies — and many already have.
What Massachusetts's Proposed Phone Bill Would Require
- • Senate: passed S 2561 by 38–2 in July 2025
- • House: moved a broader phone-and-social-media bill to a floor vote in April 2026
- • Proposed scope: bell-to-bell for K–12
- • Proposed enforcement: no suspensions or expulsions for violations
- • Backed by Gov. Maura Healey
Why Massachusetts Schools Are Acting Now
Even without a state mandate, Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts schools choose LockedIn
LockedIn is a software-based phone-free campus solution built for Massachusetts's schools. It provides
OS-level device locking,
campus geofencing, real-time monitoring, and automated compliance reports — exactly what Massachusetts 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.
Verify the law in Massachusetts
Read the primary source — S 2561 (2025, Senate-passed); House version moved to vote April 2026 — 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
Massachusetts 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.