U.S. State Legislation on Youth Digital Safety
Explore enacted and proposed laws on cellphone restrictions in schools and algorithmic feeds that target kids. Click a state to view its summary and bill list.
Detailed Legislation Table
| State | Law/Proposal Name | Category | Status | Effective/Key Date | Notes | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | FOCUS Act – Phone-Free Schools (SB 92 / Act 2025-386) | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 8/1/2025 | Bell-to-bell restrictions; local policies & social media safety course required. | https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB92-eng.pdf |
| Alaska | Wireless Telecommunications Devices in Public Schools (HB 57) | cellphone_school_ban | passed | 7/1/2025 | Model policy requirement; districts must adopt policies restricting devices. | https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%2057 |
| Arizona | HB 2484 – Student access to internet; wireless devices (schools) | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 4/15/2025 | Districts/charters must restrict social media access and limit device use with exceptions. | https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1r/bills/hb2484s.pdf |
| Arizona | HB 2112 – Internet pornography; minors; age verification | age_verification | in_effect | 5/13/2025 | Requires age verification for commercial porn sites; limits data retention and gov transmission. | https://trackbill.com/bill/arizona-house-bill-2112-internet-pornography-minors-age-verification/2596682/ |
| Arizona | HB 2861 – Social media protections; minors | Social media design defaults / privacy | Engrossed (died) | Mar 11, 2025 (Senate read 2nd time) | High?privacy defaults; opt?out of personal data use; restrict targeted ads to minors. | https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2861/id/3111464 |
| California | SB 976 – Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act | algorithmic_restrictions | enacted_but_stayed | 9/20/2024 | Limits minors’ data collection; restricts late-night/school-hour notifications; litigation stay. | https://wp.nyu.edu/compliance_enforcement/2025/03/10/childrens-online-privacy-recent-actions-by-the-states-and-the-ftc/ |
| Florida | HB 1105 (2025) – Expand school cellphone restrictions | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 7/1/2025 | Bell-to-bell ban for elementary & middle; classroom-only ban for HS; pilot for full-day HS bans. | https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/desantis-signs-bill-expanding-cellphone-restrictions-in-florida-schools/ |
| Florida | HB 379 (2023) – Technology in K-12 Public Schools | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 7/1/2023 | Restricted phone use during instructional time; social media literacy. | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/379 |
| Georgia | HB 340 (2025) – Distraction-Free Education Act (K–8 ban) | cellphone_school_ban | enacted | 7/1/2026 | Bell-to-bell K–8 ban; storage policies by Jan 2026; exceptions for IEP/medical. | https://www.wabe.org/georgia-governor-signs-k-8-personal-device-ban-in-schools-into-law/ |
| Georgia | SB 351 (2024) – Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act | social_media_access | enjoined | 7/1/2025 | Parental consent under 16; age verification; school device social media restrictions; prelim injunction. | https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2024-signed-legislation/sb-351/download |
| Idaho | H 498 (2024) – Harmful material; age verification | age_verification | in_effect | 7/1/2024 | Requires age verification; private right of action. | https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1698992 |
| Idaho | Phone Free Learning Act (Exec Order 2024?11) & 2025 bill initiative | K-12 cellphone restrictions | Executive action; legislation proposed 2025 | EO Oct 31, 2024; 2025 bill introduced | Encourages districts to adopt phone restrictions; legislative push in 2025 for statewide policy. | https://gov.idaho.gov/pressrelease/little-critchfield-unveil-new-steps-to-restrict-cell-phone-use-in-schools/ |
| Louisiana | App store age?verification law | App store age verification | Enacted | Effective Jul 1, 2026 | Requires app stores to verify age; parental consent for minors (analysis). | https://www.insideprivacy.com/childrens-privacy/state-and-federal-developments-in-minors-privacy-in-2025/ |
| Maryland | HB 603 (2024) – Maryland Kids Code | age_appropriate_design | in_effect | 10/1/2024 | Requires DPIAs; limits profiling and data collection for minors. | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/bills/hb/hb0603T.pdf |
| Michigan | SB 234 (2025) – Device policies | cellphone_school_ban | passed_senate | 5/6/2025 | Requires district policies limiting phone use; exceptions for emergency/IEP/504/medical. | https://legislature.michigan.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0234 |
| Michigan | SB 234 (2025) – Wireless communications device policy | K-12 cellphone restrictions | Passed Senate; pending in House (later House effort failed) | Senate passed May 6, 2025 | Requires districts to implement policies limiting student phone use; exceptions for emergencies/IEP/504/medical. | https://legislature.michigan.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0234 |
| Nebraska | LB 140 (2025) – Student electronic device policies | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 5/20/2025 | Requires districts to adopt policies prohibiting devices during class; specified exceptions. | https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB140.pdf |
| Nebraska | Parental Rights in Social Media Act | Social media parental controls/consent | Enacted | 2025 | Bars minors from being account holders without parental consent; requires supervision tools. | https://www.insideprivacy.com/childrens-privacy/state-and-federal-developments-in-minors-privacy-in-2025/ |
| Nevada | SB 63 (2025) – Social media minors protections (proposed) | algorithmic_restrictions | pending | NaN | Age verification; parental consent; disable infinite scroll/autoplay/likes; restrict midnight–6 a.m. notifications. | https://statecapitallobbyist.com/technology/social-media/states-advance-social-media-regulation-for-minors-2025-legislative-updates/ |
| New York | Statewide Phone-Free Schools (FY 2026 Budget; Ed. Law §2803) | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 9/1/2025 | Bell-to-bell ban for K–12; district policies; $13.5M for storage; parent contact provisions. | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/distraction-free-schools-governor-hochul-announces-new-york-become-largest-state-nation |
| New York | SAFE for Kids Act (S7694A/A8148A) | algorithmic_restrictions | in_effect | 6/20/2024 | Prohibits addictive feeds for minors without parental consent; restricts nighttime notifications; OAG rulemaking. | https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7694/amendment/A |
| New York | Child Data Protection Act (S7695B) | Children’s data protection | Enacted | 2024 | Limits collection/use/sharing of minors’ data with “strictly necessary” purposes; informed consent outside those purposes. | https://www.techpolicy.press/considering-new-yorks-stop-addictive-feeds-exploitation-for-kids-act/ |
| North Carolina | HB 959 (2025) – Device restrictions + media literacy | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 7/1/2025 | Devices off during instructional time; media literacy curriculum; policies due by Jan 1, 2026. | https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2025/07/07/are-phones-allowed-in-schools-in-nc-heres-what-hb-959-restricts/84494527007/ |
| North Carolina | HB 301 (2025) – Social Media Protections for Minors Under 16 | Social media access / parental consent & age verification | Passed House; in Senate Rules | House passed May 6, 2025 | Bans accounts under 14; requires parental consent at 14–15; age verification; DOJ enforcement. | https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H301 |
| Pennsylvania | SB 22 (2025-26) – Protecting Minors on Social Media | social_media_access | introduced | 1/24/2025 | Parental consent under 16; supervision tools; penalties; AG enforcement. | https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb0022 |
| Texas | App Store Accountability Act (2025) | app_store_age_verification | in_effect | 8/1/2025 | Requires app stores to age-verify and obtain parental consent for minors. | https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-signs-child-online-safety-phone-free-classroom-laws-in-amarillo |
| United States | Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) | algorithmic_restrictions | proposed | proposed | Establishes duty of care, parental tools, transparency requirements; passed U.S. Senate, pending House. | https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2024/7/senate-overwhelmingly-passes-children-s-online-privacy-legislation |
| United States | COPPA 2.0 | age_verification | proposed | proposed | Expands COPPA protections to teens; bans targeted ads to minors; passed U.S. Senate, pending House. | https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/29612/AAP-applauds-Senate-passage-of-children-s-online |
| Utah | App Store Accountability Act | app_store_age_verification | in_effect | 5/6/2026 | Requires app stores to age-verify all users; parental consent for minors; rulemaking required. | https://www.insideprivacy.com/childrens-privacy/state-and-federal-developments-in-minors-privacy-in-2025/ |
| Vermont | S.69 – Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code Act | age_appropriate_design | in_effect | 6/12/2025 | Design code obligations; added protections against compulsive features; effective 2027. | https://statecapitallobbyist.com/technology/social-media/states-advance-social-media-regulation-for-minors-2025-legislative-updates/ |
| Vermont | S.69 – Vermont Age?Appropriate Design Code Act | Design code / minors’ data & features | Enacted | Signed Jun 12, 2025 | Greater data protection; disables features that drive compulsive use. | https://statecapitallobbyist.com/technology/social-media/states-advance-social-media-regulation-for-minors-2025-legislative-updates/ |
| Virginia | HB 1961 / SB 738 (2025) – Bell-to-bell phone-free | cellphone_school_ban | in_effect | 7/1/2025 | Mandates bell-to-bell cell phone-free education; codifies EO 33; local policies required. | https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2025/may/name-1046981-en.html |
| Virginia | Social media time?limit provision under VCDPA (2025 changes) | Use time limits / parental controls | Enacted (per analysis) | 2025 | Requires platforms to age screen and by default limit minors to one hour/day; parental consent to change. | https://www.insideprivacy.com/childrens-privacy/state-and-federal-developments-in-minors-privacy-in-2025/ |
| Wisconsin | AB 2 (2025) – Require school boards to prohibit devices during instructional time | K-12 cellphone restrictions | Passed Assembly; in Senate | Assembly passed Feb 19, 2025 | Requires district policies banning device use during instructional time with exceptions. | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab2 |
| Wyoming | HB 43 (2025) – Age verification for harmful material websites | Pornography age verification | Enacted | 2025 | Requires age verification and creates a cause of action for minors against covered platforms. | https://www.ncsl.org/technology-and-communication/social-media-and-children-2025-legislation |
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State-by-State Summary
| State | Cell (Enacted) | Cell (Proposed) | Algo (Enacted) | Algo (Proposed) | Total (All) |
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