Ferguson's call for school cellphone ban has a familiar ring to it in Olympia
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson made a splashy announcement earlier this month that he would back legislation to ban student cellphone use from the first bell of the day to the last in public schools.
But the idea is not a new one in the Legislature.
The state superintendent and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have tried, unsuccessfully, to implement a policy like this for the past three years. A question now is whether Ferguson putting his political weight behind legislation will make a difference.
State Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, sponsored a bill this year to ban cellphones in schools. It was watered down to call for a study from the superintendent’s office, with a deadline to submit policy recommendations by December 2027.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/06/22/fergusons-call-for-school-cellphone-ban-has-a-familiar-ring-to-it-in-olympia/