A bill pending in the Indiana Statehouse would require students to securely store their cellphones at school – or leave the devices at home during the whole school day. Photo from Getty Images.

By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers are weighing a new “bell to bell” proposal that would tighten cellphone restrictions in K-12 schools by requiring Hoosier students to securely store their devices on campus – or leave them at home for the entire school day.

Senate Bill 78 received an hourlong hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 16 in the Senate Education Committee that was largely dedicated to public testimony.

Committee Chair Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, who authored the bill with Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, said possible amendments and a vote to send the bill to the full chamber is expected in early January.

“From a very high level, the (bill requires) cellphones to be left at the entrance of the class,” Raatz said. “I think it’s pretty onerous on a teacher to pay attention and make sure they’re doing the best job they can to educate kids – and have to get after (students) on cellphones.”

A similar, nearly identical measure was also filed by Republican Rep. Jake Teshka for consideration in the 2026 session. It’s not yet clear what action the opposing chamber might take on his House Bill 1034.

Left At Home – Or ‘Locked Up’

Indiana already enacted a statewide cellphone restriction law in 2024, which prohibits students from using phones, tablets, laptops and gaming devices during instructional time, with exemptions for education, emergencies, health-care needs or disability-related accommodations.

But that law does not dictate how schools must enforce the bans, nor does it restrict phones during lunch or passing periods.

“We ran into a few instances out in the districts where it’s being applied differently than the intention,” Raatz said. “We felt like it’d be wise to come together and tighten it up so that we can see results … increasing success in educational outcomes is what we’re really after.”

Under Senate Bill 78, school corporations and charter schools would be required to adopt a wireless communication device ban that prohibits students from using or possessing a wireless communication device during the school day and requires that any teacher-directed use of a device “for educational purposes” occur only on school-supplied devices.

It also mandates that each district choose between two enforcement models: a “no device policy,” in which students may not bring phones to school at all; or a “secure storage policy,” in which students may bring phones but must store them so they are “inaccessible throughout the school day” and returned only after dismissal.

The bill also expands the definition of “wireless communication device” to include smartwatches connected to a phone, cell tower or the Internet.

Exceptions are carved out for students with disabilities under an Individualized Education Program or Section 504 plan; students managing a documented medical condition; emergencies where the superintendent or a designee authorizes access; and cases where language-translation tools are needed for multi-lingual learners, with preference for school-managed devices.

Raatz said during the hearing that the emergency exemptions were designed to let school officials manage communication during critical incidents.

“Someone has to be an adult in the room to set up so kids can communicate with their parents, should there be an incident,” he said.

Indiana is weighing the policy amid a national shift.

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Education publicly called on every state, school and district to adopt strong cellphone-use policies, citing academic, behavioral and mental-health concerns. Federal officials urged “away-for-the-day” models and pointed to increasing research showing reduced classroom distraction and improved peer interaction when phones are inaccessible.

While the Hoosier State’s 2024 law placed it among the early adopters, Raatz’ latest measure would make Indiana’s law one of the more stringent.

How Enforcement Would Work

Districts selecting a “secure storage” model could choose their own methods.

Some Indiana schools already use locked pouches – like the Yondr Pouch – that students seal at the start of the day and unlock when leaving the building.

That process typically requires students to turn off or place their phone on airplane mode, secure it in the pouch under staff supervision, store it in a backpack or locker during the day, and unlock it at dismissal.

Multiple parents and advocacy groups testified in support.