According to the Utah Legislature, Senate Bill 69 was passed on February 25. This bill enforces a bell to bell ban on cell phone usage across all schools in Utah, including during lunch and breaks. Jade Cantwell, a Freshman at Skyline, expressed, “I think it’s a really bad thing to do, to take away phones from students during lunch and passing periods, because that time is designated so that students can take a break. A lot of them take that break on their phones.”

It passed both chambers and was signed by Governor Spencer Cox. It will be in effect for the 2026-2027 school year. 

The goal of this ban was to make students less distracted, increase overall mental health, and increase interaction between students. Students have admitted that they have used their phone in class before.

However, students say that phones are not the primary distraction to learning. According to Cantwell, “games on chromebooks are 100% easier to access and more of a distraction than phones. Eliminating phones will not eliminate distractions.”

Another concern for students with a bell to bell ban is safety. Bailey Mckethien, a Freshman from Skyline, says that it adds stress not being able to immediately access parents during the day, especially during an emergency. 

However, according to Abbie Whipple, a Freshman from Skyline, “when the conversation gets awkward, a lot of kids just go on their phones to avoid socializing.” Skyline students think that phones can impede social interaction between students. Following up on that, Mckethien expressed, “Kids today are very attached to their phones. A little bit of healthy separation during the school day can be a good thing. Time away from phones can help increase attention spans.”

All three students expressed positive and negative opinions about the phone ban. From their perspective, on one hand, it will not eliminate distractions and could even be harmful if they cannot access their phones in times of emergency. On the other hand, it would increase social interaction from students and help foster healthy relationships between students and their phones. However, regardless of public opinion, the bill will be in effect next school year.  According to Cantwell, “I do not believe that students will be safe without their phones at school.”