Gov. Kay Ivey Signs FOCUS Act, Banning Student Cell Phones in Alabama Classrooms

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed the FOCUS Act into law Wednesday, May 14. The Facilitating Opportunity and Coverage for Undistracted Students (FOCUS) Act, places new restrictions on cell phone and other wireless device use by students during the school day in Alabama’s public school.

The law is intended to reduce classroom distractions and promote student engagement by limiting access to personal technology.

The FOCUS Act mandates that local school boards adopt internet safety policies governing student access to the internet on school-issued devices. It further requires age-appropriate training on social media safety before students enter the eighth grade,

Gov. Ivey endorsed the FOCUS Act during her 2024 State of the State address. Today, she signed the bill into law while surrounded by a number of students.

"In my State of the State address, I repeated the requests of Alabama teachers and parents in calling for a ban on student cell phone use in our schools,” Ivey said. “Smart phones have beneficial roles when used in proper settings. However, these often-disruptive devices have no place in our classrooms during the school day except for educational purposes or during an emergency. The FOCUS Act will enable students to ‘focus’ on learning while in school rather than on their phones.”

State Representative Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena), who sponsored the bill as HB166 in the Alabama House, said the new law will help strengthen academic outcomes across the state.

“As a parent, equipping my children to excel in all aspects of life is priority number one, and what they learn in the classroom plays an immense role in that,” said Hulsey. “The FOCUS Act will limit distractions and provide an avenue for every student in our state to get the absolute most out of their day at school, leading to a stronger Alabama of tomorrow. I am grateful to Governor Ivey for the opportunity to sponsor this important legislation and sincerely appreciate the support of my colleagues in the House and Senate.”

State Senator Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva), who carried the bill in the Senate, praised the law for prioritizing the classroom experience.

“Our goal should always be to create an environment where students can reach their full potential – the FOCUS Act does just that,” Chesteen said. “By restricting the use of cell phones during instructional time, students will perform better, stay more engaged and enjoy stronger classroom communities.”

Supporters of the legislation point to real-world results from schools that have already implemented similar restrictions. Pike Road Junior High, for example, has a policy requiring students to store their phones in pouches during the day. Principal Christy Wright said the shift has made a measurable difference in both academics and school culture.

“The truth is this isn’t just about a law, it’s about what happens when students and teachers are given the space and focus to grow,” Wright said. “We’ve seen a clear shift in our school culture: more engagement, deeper connections, and a greater sense of community. But the impact hasn’t just been social, it’s also academic.”

Wright noted that eighth-grade students at the school recently took the PSAT 8/9 and exceeded expectations.

“Not only did our school reach our growth target of a 60-point increase, we exceeded it with a 95-point gain,” she said. “Even more impressively, our scores are 39 points above the national average. That is an extraordinary accomplishment.”

The FOCUS Act takes effect at the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year.

The full text of HB166, the FOCUS Act, is HERE. A video of the signing, from WSFA 12 News, is HERE.