At an event in Spokane on Friday, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced plans to introduce a phone-ban bill to the state legislature in December.
According to the proposal, if passed, students would have to store their phones while in school, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans or medical accommodations.
“The research is clear — School-day phone use has a negative impact on student learning, ability to focus, attendance and mental and emotional health,” said Governor Ferguson. “We don’t allow smoking on planes anymore — I’m confident that in a few years, allowing cell phones in schools will feel just as wrong. Phone-free schools will improve academic performance, the classroom environment, and the school environment. My mission as governor is to get this legislation across the finish line and sign it into law.”
According to a statement from his office, Governor Ferguson plans to prefile the Governor Request Bill the day prefiling opens on Dec. 7.
You can read the full text of the proposal here.
©2026 Cox Media Group
