Connecticut legislation · 2026 General Assembly
Connecticut HB5149: AN ACT CONCERNING PHONE-FREE SCHOOLS.
Status: In committee, April 7, 2026
What the bill says
An act concerning phone-free schools. assembly convened.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT CONCERNING PHONE-FREE SCHOOLS. Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 10-233j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): (a) No student in a public school in the state shall possess or use a remotely activated paging device unless such student obtains the written permission of the school principal for such possession and use. The principal shall grant such permission only if the student or [his] the student's parent or guardian establishes to the satisfaction of the principal that a reasonable basis exists for the possession and use of the device. [(b) A local or regional board of education may restrict the student possession or use of cellular mobile telephones in the schools under its jurisdiction. In determining whether to restrict such possession or use, the local or regional board of education shall consider the special needs of parents and students.] (b) (1) As used in this subsection: LCO No. 1196 1 of Raised Bill No. 5149 (A) "Mobile electronic device" means any hand-held or other portable electronic equipment capable of providing data communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limited to, a cellular mobile telephone, a text messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, equipment that is capable of playing a video …
Sponsors
- Laurie Sweet (D, 91) · primary sponsor
- Herron Gaston (D, 23)
- Nicholas Gauthier (D, 38)
- Savet Constantine (D, 42)
- Geraldo Reyes (D, 75)
- Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D, 133)
- William Heffernan (D, 115)
- James Sanchez (D, 6)
- David Rutigliano (R, 123)
- Jonathan Fazzino (D, 83)
Latest actions
- : File Number 407
- : House Calendar Number 291
- : Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
- : Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
- : Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 12:00 PM
- : Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
- : Joint Favorable Substitute
- : Public Hearing 02/20
- : Referred to Joint Committee on Education
Votes
- ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (March 16, 2026): 30 yea, 16 nay, passed
Subjects: Social media, Students, Schools, Cellular telephones, Boards of education
Common questions
- What is HB5149?
- HB5149 is a bill in the Connecticut Legislature (2026 General Assembly): AN ACT CONCERNING PHONE-FREE SCHOOLS.
- What does HB5149 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning phone-free schools. assembly convened.
- What is the status of HB5149?
- In committee as of April 7, 2026. Latest action: File Number 407 (April 7, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB5149?
- Laurie Sweet (D, 91), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB5149?
- On the Connecticut Legislature website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05149&which_year=2026
Source: official Connecticut record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.