AB 235: Pupils: use of smartphones.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified February 3, 2026

What AB 235 does, verified February 3, 2026

The bill aims to amend a law requiring school districts to develop and adopt policies limiting or prohibiting the use of smartphones by students while at school or under supervision. The policy must be a scheduled-based restriction policy or a full-day restriction policy. This would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, making it a state-mandated local program. The state would be required to reimburse local agencies and school districts for the costs mandated by the state if the commission on state mandates determines that the bill contains such costs.

Bill journey

✓IntroducedComplete

2In CommitteeCurrent

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Asm. Joaquin ArambulaAuthor · California State Assembly

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Recent actions12 total · showing 5

Feb. 02, 2026	From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Jan. 31, 2026	Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
May. 14, 2025	In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
Apr. 30, 2025	In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
Apr. 22, 2025	Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Full action history, 7 earlier actionsConnect Plus

Latest bill textAmended version, April 21, 2025 · 783 words

Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2025

Amended IN Assembly March 17, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 235

Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula

January 13, 2025

An act to amend Section 48901.7 of the Education Code, relating to pupils.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 235, as amended, Arambula. Pupils: use of smartphones.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school, by July 1, 2026, to develop and adopt, and update every 5 years, a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school, as provided.

This bill would ~~require~~ expressly authorize the above-described policy to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones to be include, but not be limited to, a scheduled-based restriction policy, as defined, or a full-day restriction policy, as defined. ~~By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program.~~

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: ~~YES~~NO Local Program: ~~YES~~NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares that schools are encouraged to improve access to media literacy through media literacy classes, extracurricular opportunities, open tech days, and any other options in order to encourage the responsible and safe use of technology in schools.

~~SECTION 1.~~SEC. 2.

Section 48901.7 of the Education Code is amended to read:

48901.7.

(a) (1) (A) The governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school shall, no later than July 1, 2026, develop and adopt, and shall update every five years, a ~~schedule-based restriction policy or full-day restriction~~ policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school. ~~The~~

(B) The policy adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) may include, but is not limited to, a schedule-based restriction policy or full-day restriction policy.
(2) The
goal of the policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be to promote evidence-based use of smartphone practices to support pupil learning and well-being. The development of the policy shall involve significant stakeholder participation in order to ensure that the policies are responsive to the unique needs and desires of pupils, parents, and educators in each community. The policy may also include enforcement mechanisms that limit access to smartphones.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a pupil shall not be prohibited from possessing or using a smartphone under any of the following circumstances:

(1) In the case of an emergency, or in response to a perceived threat of danger.

(2) When a teacher or administrator of the school district, county office of education, or charter school grants permission to a pupil to possess or use a smartphone, subject to any reasonable limitation imposed by that teacher or administrator.

(3) When a licensed physician and surgeon determines that the possession or use of a smartphone is necessary for the health or well-being of the pupil.

(4) When the possession or use of a smartphone is required in a pupil’s individualized education program.

(c) This section does not authorize monitoring, collecting, or otherwise accessing any information related to a pupil’s online activities.

(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Full-day restriction policy” means a policy that prohibits the use of smartphones by pupils during the schoolday, including during instructional time, lunch or free periods, and passing time.

(2) “Schedule-based restriction policy” means a policy that prohibits the use of smartphones by pupils at certain times of the schoolday, such as during instruction, and permits the limited use of smartphones by pupils at other times of the schoolday, such as during breaks or lunch periods.

SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Text of AB 235 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions