Arkansas Enacts Act 122: Mandatory 'Bell-to-Bell' Cellphone Ban Across All Public Schools

Passed by the Arkansas General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Act 122 (originating as Senate Bill 142) establishes a binding statewide standard prohibiting student use and possession of personal electronic communication devices across all public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. Officially titled the "Bell to Bell, No Cell Act" and sponsored by Senator Tyler Dees and Representative Jon Eubanks, the landmark statute was enacted to eliminate persistent classroom distractions, curb cyberbullying, and protect adolescent mental wellbeing and cognitive engagement.

Operating on a comprehensive "bell-to-bell" framework, the statute governs the entire school day—from the initial morning bell until the final dismissal bell. The prohibition extends well beyond instructional class time, explicitly barring smartphones, smartwatches, wearable tech, and wireless headphones during hallway passing periods, lunch breaks, and outdoor recess. School districts are required to codify the policy into their student codes of conduct, with non-compliant districts facing formal accreditation sanctions from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Act 122 builds upon the empirical success of Arkansas's state-funded pilot program while codifying precise statutory exemptions for genuine instructional and medical needs. Exceptions are provided for students requiring physician-certified health monitoring devices (such as continuous blood glucose monitors for Type 1 diabetes), documented accommodations under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, teacher-directed school-issued learning tools, and urgent active emergency situations. Furthermore, districts must maintain clear administrative channels allowing parents to reach their children during verified family emergencies.

For individuals seeking to prevent smartphone notifications from disrupting study hours or deep focus sessions, Limitra App Block allows users to establish scheduled restriction windows, automatically preventing access to chosen applications during designated focus hours.