Massachusetts School Phone Ban Bill (S.2581): 2026 Status

Not yet. Massachusetts has no statewide school phone law yet. The Senate passed a bell-to-bell bill (S.2581) in July 2025 and the House passed a broader version in April 2026; the two chambers have been in a conference committee since May 2026. As of October 27, 2026, it is one of 6 states without a statewide requirement.

What S.2581 would require

• • No statewide requirement is in force; each district sets its own phone policy
• • Senate version (S.2581): each public school or district would bar student use and possession of personal devices on their person for the whole school day, including recess, lunch and passing time
• • Both versions would require at least one way for parents to reach students during the day and would bar suspension or expulsion as discipline for violations
• • Both versions would have schools or districts file their device policy with DESE annually by Sept 1

The emergency wording for every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico is in school phone ban emergency exceptions by state.

The key provision, verbatim

“a prohibition on the use and actual possession, strictly on their person, of a personal electronic device by a student during the school day, which shall include, but not be limited to, recess, a lunch period and time in between classes.”

Source: S.2581 (2025), § 2 (proposed G.L. c. 71, § 102(a)(i))

Timeline

1. July 31, 2025Senate passes S.2581 (reprint of S.2561, as amended) 38–2
2. April 8, 2026House passes an amended version 129–25
3. May 7, 2026Senate non-concurs; conference committee appointed
4. May 20, 2026House insists on its amendment and appoints its conferees
5. September 24, 2026Healey-Driscoll administration opens $1M Cell Phone-Free Schools grants
6. October 21, 2026Grant applications closed

Storage rules

No statewide rule yet. The Senate bill would bar possession "strictly on their person"; the House version would accept secure storage or technology that renders a device inoperable.

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 Massachusetts administrators

1. No state mandate yet: review and, if needed, update your district policy under local authority
2. The state Cell Phone-Free Schools grant closed Oct 21, 2026; watch DESE for awards and any later round
3. Track the S.2581 conference committee for any final bill and its effective date
4. If a bill passes in its current form, expect an annual Sept 1 policy filing with DESE and a bar on suspension or expulsion for violations

How Massachusetts districts are carrying it out

With no statewide requirement in force, each district sets its own rule. Here is what one large Massachusetts district has adopted, from its own published policy:

• • Boston Public Schools: Phones must be off and away during the school day now; a bell-to-bell ban proposed in October 2026 would start in September 2027.

State money for it. Massachusetts Cell Phone-Free Schools Grant (DESE FC 9610) (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education): At least $1 million statewide; up to $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 per applicant by enrollment. Eligible: MA public districts, charter schools and collaboratives. Closed (deadline Oct 21, 2026). Funds run through June 30, 2027, with possible continuation in FY28–FY30. Official source. Massachusetts Phone Free Schools Support Grant (Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office): $500,000 total; awards up to $50,000 by enrollment. Eligible: MA public and charter districts, educational collaboratives and some nonprofits. Closed (deadline Jun 5, 2026). Official source.