Does Mississippi Ban Phones in School? (2026 Status)
Mississippi has no statewide school phone law. In 2026, SB 2099 passed the Senate but died in a House committee on March 3, and the House bell-to-bell bill HB 702 died in committee on Feb 3.
State lawsBy Brian Ohebshalom and Noah Fakheri, LockedIn’s co-founders
3 min read
Mississippi school cell phone bill: key facts
Bill failed (2026)- Statute or action
- SB 2099 (2026, passed Senate; died in House committee) and HB 702 (2026, died in House committee)
- SB 2099 (2026) passed the Senate Feb 4, 2026 and died in House committee March 3, 2026
- SB 2099 would have required district policies by Jan 1, 2027, with daily state-funding deductions for schools that missed the deadline
- HB 702 (2026), a bell-to-bell bill that would have barred suspension or expulsion for violations, died in House committee Feb 3, 2026
- No statewide statute is in effect; local school boards set phone rules
Primary source: SB 2099 (2026, passed Senate; died in House committee) and HB 702 (2026, died in House committee)(opens in a new tab). Last verified . Not legal advice: confirm with your counsel.
No. Mississippi has no statewide school phone law. In 2026, SB 2099 passed the Senate but died in a House committee on March 3, and the House bell-to-bell bill HB 702 died in committee on Feb 3. As of October 12, 2026, it is one of 7 states without a statewide requirement.
Where Mississippi stands
- • No statewide requirement is in force; each local school board sets its own phone policy
Timeline
- HB 702 (bell-to-bell) dies in House committee
- Senate passes SB 2099
- SB 2099 dies in House committee
Storage rules
No statewide rule; storage and scope are local school board decisions.
Some schools back a written policy with phone-management software such as LockedIn: at schools that use its Screen Time setup, students' own phones lock automatically on campus and unlock after school, and the admin dashboard flags workarounds, such as a possible uninstall or a new device awaiting approval. Software does not replace a written board policy; have counsel review any tool that handles student device data.
Checklist for Mississippi administrators
- No state mandate: review your board policy on student phones under local authority
- Decide scope (class time or full day), storage and exceptions locally, since state law sets none
- Watch the 2027 session for a new statewide bill
Frequently asked questions
Is Mississippi one of the states without a school phone ban?
Yes. As of October 12, 2026, Mississippi is one of 7 states with no statewide law or order requiring public schools to restrict student phones. Mississippi has no statewide school phone law. In 2026, SB 2099 passed the Senate but died in a House committee on March 3, and the House bell-to-bell bill HB 702 died in committee on Feb 3.
Does Mississippi have a school phone ban?
No. Mississippi has no statewide school phone law, so each local school board sets its own rules.
What happened to Mississippi's 2026 school phone bills?
SB 2099 passed the Senate on Feb 4, 2026 but died in a House committee on March 3, 2026. The House bell-to-bell bill HB 702 died in committee on Feb 3, 2026.
What would SB 2099 have required?
Each public district and charter school would have had to adopt and send the state a policy banning possession, or restricting use, of student phones during class by Jan 1, 2027, with daily funding deductions for missing the deadline.
Sources for Mississippi
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.
- SB 2099 (2026, passed Senate; died in House committee) and HB 702 (2026, died in House committee): official text(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- HB 702 (2026) bill history(opens in a new tab)
- Mississippi 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.