CA AB1644

Requires school districts, county boards of education, and charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting smartphone use by pupils at school sites by July 1, 2027, replacing the current law that only requires policies to "limit or prohibit" use

Establishes a "bell-to-bell ban" on smartphone use during the school day to support pupil learning and well-being

Exempts students from the prohibition in specific circumstances: emergencies, teacher/administrator permission, medical necessity determined by a physician, or when required by an individualized education program (IEP)

Mandates that adopted policies be made available to the State Department of Education upon request, with schools subject to monitoring and auditing for compliance

Requires policies to be updated every five years with significant stakeholder participation from pupils, parents, and educators