Ohio Gov. DeWine addresses proposed bill to ban cellphones in schools

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will speak in a Tuesday morning press conference to offer support of a bill that would ban cellphones in schools throughout the state.

DeWine will host the press conference at the Ohio Statehouse, where he will be joined by State Senators Jane Timken (R-Jackson County) and Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware), former Second Lady of Ohio Tina Husted, and Dr. John Marschhuasen, Dublin City School District Superintendent. You can watch the press conference live in the video player above.

"In last year’s State of the State, I talked about the need to take action in this area," Gov. DeWine said. "We need to be sure that our classrooms are now cellphone free."

“Studies consistently show that access to cellphones during school hours negatively impact student learning and academic performance," DeWine said. "Furthermore, these phones can be incredibly harmful to the students mental and emotional health. They expose our kids to things like cyberbullying, sextortion (and) both of these factors increase the risk of suicide among our children.”

It is Timken’s legislation, Senate Bill 158 calls for the banning of phones during the school day in Ohio, while focusing on enhanced student engagement and safety by prohibiting the use of cellphones. The bill would also introduce disciplinary measures for students who violate the ban.

"This legislation is a commonsense approach to unplug our children, from the constant distraction that they have in the classroom,” said Timken, who noted that on average a child can receive nearly 200 notifications per day.

It is expected the bill, which Timken said will include a few exceptions when it comes to facilitating learning, will be presented in Senate's Education Committee and it is believed the standalone bill will move through the Ohio legislature.

One year ago, DeWine called for a new law on banning phones. House Bill 485 called for phones to be banned in schools, except for an emergency, medical situation, or instructional purposes, but he received pushback for its sweeping guidelines.

The bill uses similar language in DeWine’s executive budget proposal in which he introduced the banning of phones in schools. A new Ohio law was enacted in 2024 that required school districts to implement policies to address the use of phones in schools, and many districts followed with banning their use. Many districts have already noted improvement in student engagement, attendance, grades, socialization, and communication, the Governor’s office said.

Superintendent Marschhuasen also noted that phones will not be allocated phones to students during emergencies, such as an active shooter.

"I understand there's fear, and our goal will be to get students safely back to parents as soon as possible, but individual student having a cellphone isn't part of any of those plans," he said.

When asked why, Marschhuasen quickly noted, "Because it clogs and slows the process. In any situation if students are given directions on where to go, them looking at their phones, it only slows what we're trying to do, what we've practiced when it comes to evacuating, when it comes to lockdown, when it comes to shelter in place. Whatever those plans are, students need to be paying attention."

At the news conference, Husted discussed strategies parents can use to be more aware of what their children are doing on their phones, including having regular and open conversations with their children about the dangers they may face online so they know what to do and who to turn to if they feel unsafe.

She has previously supported Braden’s Law, signed by DeWine in January, which makes sexual extortion a felony offense in Ohio. That law is slated to go into effect Wednesday.