New Hampshire House Moves Forward with Classroom Cell Phone Limits

CONCORD, N.H. - A proposal to curb student cell phone use in New Hampshire’s public schools has cleared another hurdle, with Senate Bill 206 advancing out of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee last week. The bill, which originated in the Senate, would require all school districts to adopt formal policies limiting student cell phone use during the school day.

Under the measure, each school board must create a district-wide policy in collaboration with teachers and parents. These policies must be enforced school-wide and reviewed annually. While allowing for exceptions related to medical conditions, disabilities, or language access needs, the bill requires clear standards and outlines administrative roles for dealing with violations.

Representative Melissa Litchfield (R-Brentwood), who played a leading role on the subcommittee that shaped the bill, said the move comes in response to growing concerns about classroom distractions. “After extremely compelling testimony from educators, parents, and students on how important it is to protect our children from cell phone use in schools, we are taking action to make sure that our schools remain places of education,” Litchfield said. “We send children to school to learn, not browse Instagram and TikTok.”

Litchfield worked with Representative Paul Terry (R-Alton) to review the bill, which also ensures compliance with federal protections for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, and multilingual learners.

The bill carries no projected impact on local revenue and only indeterminate local costs, which will vary depending on district implementation, according to the Legislative Budget Assistant’s.

Governor Kelly Ayotte has voiced her support for restricting cell phone use in schools, announcing the initiative during her inaugural address. “Screens are negatively impacting our learning environments, drawing students' attention away from their classes, and becoming a barrier for teachers to do their jobs,” Ayotte said. “No more”

SB 206 now moves to the full House for a vote. If passed, it would take effect 60 days after becoming law.