Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed legislation mandating a Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free education policy in Virginia. The signing took place at Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, with legislators, educators, parents, and students in attendance. The bills, HB1961 and SB738, formalize the cell phone-free policy established by Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 33.
Governor Youngkin emphasized the importance of this policy for enhancing learning environments by reducing distractions caused by cell phones and social media. “School should be a place of learning and human interaction—free from the distractions and classroom disruptions of cell-phone and social media use,” he stated.
First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin also supported the initiative, highlighting its role in promoting student well-being. She remarked on Virginia’s leadership in prioritizing childhood protection through this legislation.
Studies have shown that excessive screen time is linked to poor mental health among children. Since the pandemic lockdowns began in 2020, there has been a significant increase in screen usage among children aged 6 to 18, according to research from the National Institutes of Health.
In response to these findings, Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 last year to establish guidelines for Cell Phone-Free Education across school divisions. Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera expressed gratitude towards Governor Youngkin for his leadership on this issue: “Today, we sign a nation-leading law making Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free a reality for every student in the Commonwealth.”
Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly addressed concerns over screen addiction as both a mental and physical health issue. Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson noted that many schools had already adopted this approach with positive outcomes.
To further combat negative effects of excessive social media use, Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order 43 last November to create the Reclaiming Childhood Task Force. Additionally, April 13–19 was recognized as Virginia Screen-Free Week to encourage breaks from digital devices.
Video footage from the bill signing event is available online.
