Michigan School Cell Phone Law (HB 4141 and SB 495): What It Requires

Yes. Michigan has a statewide law on student phones in school. Michigan bans student phone use during class time in every school district and charter academy, starting in 2026–27 (HB 4141, signed Feb. 10, 2026). Basic phones are not covered. HB 4141 and SB 495 was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on February 10, 2026.

What HB 4141 and SB 495 requires

• • Beginning in 2026–27, each district board and public school academy board implements a policy prohibiting students from using a wireless communications device on school grounds during instructional time.
• • The policy must describe the enforcement mechanisms the school will use.
• • It must exempt medically necessary devices; district-owned devices; devices designated for instruction; special education, IEP and Section 504 accommodations; lesson-specific assignments at a teacher’s discretion; and emergencies described in the emergency operations plan.
• • It must be posted on the district’s or academy’s website.
• • Under SB 495, the emergency operations plan must include a protocol for when and how students may use devices during an emergency.

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

The key provision, verbatim

“prohibits students from using a wireless communications device on school grounds during instructional time”

Source: MCL 380.1303a(1), added by Public Act 2 of 2026

Timeline

1. January 22, 2026Senate passes HB 4141 with immediate effect
2. February 10, 2026HB 4141 and SB 495 signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (Public Acts 2 and 1 of 2026)

Where phones must be kept

The statute bans use during instructional time and leaves storage and any stricter limits to the district.

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 the policy HB 4141 and SB 495 requires, and it should be set up around the exceptions the law lists; have counsel review any tool that handles student device data.

Checklist for Michigan administrators

1. Confirm the board-adopted policy is in force for 2026–27 and posted on the district or academy website.
2. Make sure the policy describes how it will be enforced; the statute requires that detail.
3. List all six required exemptions in the policy.
4. Update the emergency operations plan with a protocol for student device use in emergencies (SB 495).
5. Decide whether to add limits beyond class time, such as lunch or passing periods.

How Michigan districts are carrying it out

The law sets the floor; each district writes its own policy on top of it. Here is what one large Michigan district has adopted, from its own published policy:

• • Detroit Public Schools Community District: From 2026–27, no phone use from the entry bell to the dismissal bell; each school decides whether it collects phones daily or has students keep them off and put away.