Moriarty Statement on Passage of Legislation Requiring Development of School Cellphone Policy

TRENTON – Senator Paul Moriarty issued the following statement on the Assembly’s passage of and Senate concurrence on Bill S-3695, which aims to assist school districts in developing policies concerning the use of cellphones and social media platforms in school:  

“The passage of this significant piece of legislation is a momentous step for schools across the state, and paves the way for the bill to be signed into law. I commend members of both the Senate and the Assembly for rising above partisan lines and working together to look after the well-being of New Jersey’s children and teens.

It is well documented that unrestricted cellphone use in our schools disrupts learning and negatively affects the mental health of students. Cellphone and social media usage have been linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression, as well as sleep disruption, creating a crisis within schools that knows no bounds. 

It is imperative for the DOE to help develop a common-sense approach to help mitigate these issues and allow our kids to focus on learning. This legislation ensures that schools will be well equipped to fight this crisis through the implementation of clear, streamlined protocols that guarantee a productive, distraction-free learning environment for all students.” 

The bill is now expected to head to the Governor’s desk for a signature.