Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined legislators, educators, parents and students at Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell for a ceremonial bill signing of HB1961 and SB738.
The bipartisan legislation codifies the Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free education policy established by Youngkin’s Executive Order No. 33. School divisions will be required to adopt a full Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free policy during school hours.
“Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free education has been benefiting students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the Commonwealth since last summer. By signing these bills, our statewide policy will be the law. School should be a place of learning and human interaction — free from the distractions and classroom disruptions of cell-phone and social media use. Our students will learn more and be healthier and safer,” Youngkin said.
Recent studies indicate that children who spend more than a few hours per day on social media have double the risk of poor mental health. Excessive screen time and social media use have also been linked to increased risks of poor social and emotional health.
According to a study from the National Institutes of Health, since the start of pandemic lockdowns in 2020 until now, the proportion of children between the ages of 6 and 12 who spent more than two hours per day on a screen increased from 9 percent to more than 69 percent while the proportion of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 who spent more than two hours per day on a screen rose from 25 percent to 93 percent.
“Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free education is an important first step in freeing students to focus, engage face-to-face, explore the real world, and be kids again. I’m proud that Virginia is leading the way in protecting childhood and prioritizing student well-being,” First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin said.
In July 2024, Youngkin responded to the crisis by issuing Executive Order No. 33, and directing the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Resources and the Department of Education to establish a detailed definition of Cell Phone-Free Education and issue final guidance for school divisions to adopt.
“Thank you to Gov. Youngkin for listening to parents and teachers, and for his courage and leadership. Today, we sign a nation-leading law making Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free a reality for every student in the Commonwealth. Today, we ensure that every student in every school in the Commonwealth has the opportunity to be fully present and distraction free throughout their school day,” Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera said.
In November, Youngkin built on the initiative by issuing Executive Order No. 43, creating the Reclaiming Childhood Task Force and mobilizing state agencies to provide resources for parents, educators, and healthcare providers to combat the negative effects of excessive social media use. Last month, he recognized April 13 to 19, 2025 as Virginia Screen-Free Week, a statewide initiative encouraging Virginians of all ages to take intentional breaks from phones, tablets and social media, and reconnect with family, community and the world beyond the screen.
“Each child in Virginia has unlimited potential and a unique purpose that should be fully realized, not curbed by addictive algorithms and apps. Screen addiction is a mental, physical, and spiritual health problem. Thanks to Gov. Youngkin’s courage, outcomes for kids are brighter and better,” Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly said.
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson is a former teacher. She said she ran her classroom as cell phone free and Virginia’s new law is common sense.
“Virginia has led the way with school divisions across the Commonwealth implementing Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone-Free schools and kids are thriving as a result.”
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Virginia DOE releases draft cell phone-free education guidance
‘Bell-to-bell’: Virginia DOE releases final draft of Cell Phone-Free Education guidance
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Rebecca Barnabi
