State Rep. Joseph Pavlov recently voted in support of a plan to limit cell phone use in classrooms, legislation aimed at restoring focus, strengthening learning environments, and supporting teachers across Michigan.

House Bill 4141, which has since passed in both chambers and awaits the governor’s signature, requires school boards and public school academies to implement a wireless communications device policy beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. For students in kindergarten through eighth grade, schools would prohibit device use during instructional time, between classes, lunch, and recess. For students in ninth through twelfth grade, device use would be prohibited during instructional time. Schools with multiple grade levels would follow the policy for the highest grade served, and districts would retain the authority to adopt additional restrictions.

“Teachers should not have to compete with a screen for a student’s attention,” said Pavlov (R-Smiths Creek). “This plan sets clear expectations in the classroom so students can concentrate, teachers can teach, and learning can happen without constant interruption.”

The legislation includes commonsense exemptions for medically necessary devices, district owned or district designated instructional devices, lesson specific academic use at a teacher’s discretion, special education programming including IEPs and 504 Plans, and limited emergency use that does not interfere with school safety protocols or first responders. Schools would also be required to outline enforcement procedures and post their policy publicly.

Pavlov noted that many schools have already taken steps to curb phone use in the classroom and are seeing improvements in student focus and behavior.