A bill aimed at restricting cellphone use in Vermont schools continues to sit in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, raising questions about the pace of action on an issue many experts and agencies now view as critical to student mental health and academic focus.
Senate Bill S.21, originally introduced by Senator Terry Williams (R-Rutland County) in 2024 and reintroduced in 2025, would prohibit students from using personal electronic devices from arrival to dismissal during the school day. The bill also prohibits schools from communicating with students through social media platforms and requires clear policies for any exceptions related to medical needs or disability accommodations.
Initially, S.21 was referred to the Senate Education Committee early in the 2025 session. In early March, just days before the legislature’s critical “crossover” deadline, the bill was reassigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Senator Virginia “Ginny” Lyons (D–Chittenden Southeast). Despite having time before the crossover cutoff, Health and Welfare did not take action on the bill. As a result, S.21 missed crossover and cannot advance on its own this year unless it is attached to another bill that successfully crossed over. Otherwise, it will remain stalled until the 2026 session.
Federal Guidance Encourages Local Action
The proposed restrictions are not occurring in a vacuum. In late 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released Planning Together: A Playbook for Student Personal Device Policies, a 37-page resource encouraging all states and school districts to adopt local policies limiting cellphone use during school hours. The Department did not mandate specific rules but strongly emphasized the need for consistent, research-based policies to support student learning and well-being.
S.21’s framework closely mirrors the federal guidance. It allows flexibility at the local level — offering options such as requiring phones to be placed in secured lockers or lockable pouches — while maintaining the fundamental expectation of a phone-free learning environment.
Public Health Officials Sound the Alarm
Public health officials have also raised alarms. In 2024, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy — serving under the Biden administration — issued a major advisory warning about the risks of social media and screen time on children and adolescents. The Surgeon General called for Congressional action, likening the risks to those associated with tobacco use decades earlier.
Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted findings from the National Health Interview Survey–Teen, showing that nearly 50% of teenagers aged 12–17 engage in four or more hours of screen time daily — a behavior correlated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption.
Vermont’s own Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) found that 63% of high school students report that their mental health is sometimes or always “not good.”
States Across the Country Are Moving
Vermont would not be alone in acting on these concerns. Across the United States, at least 15 states have now enacted laws or regulations restricting student cellphone use during the school day, according to recent tracking by the Education Commission of the States and national reporting. Another 10 to 12 states are currently debating or drafting similar measures during their 2025 sessions.
Major proposals are under consideration in states like Texas, New York, and Illinois. Proposed bills vary, but the general focus remains consistent: reducing distractions during the school day and addressing mounting mental health concerns linked to digital device overuse.
Importantly, these actions are bipartisan. States with Republican-led legislatures and those with Democrat-led majorities alike are moving to limit cellphone use, citing growing public health evidence and educational concerns.
As national momentum continues to build, Vermont remains among the states where formal legislative action has not yet been completed.
Why the Delay?
Given the consistent warnings from federal health officials, the Department of Education’s guidance, and actions taken by a growing number of states, some are asking why S.21 remains stalled in Vermont.
The bill had a clear opportunity to advance earlier this year. It was referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on or about March 11, several days before the legislature’s crossover deadline — a key procedural milestone in the legislative calendar. However, the committee did not schedule it for testimony or debate, allowing it to “sit on the wall” and miss the crossover deadline.
Now, unless S.21 is amended onto another bill that successfully made crossover, it will not advance during the 2025 session. Without such action, it will remain dormant until 2026 — extending by another year efforts to address student screen time and social media exposure during the school day.
With strong alignment between federal guidance, public health research, and national legislative trends, the question remains: how long will Vermont wait before taking action to limit student cellphone use and strengthen the health, safety, and academic success of its schoolchildren?
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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