H.B. 1009 has been signed into law – high school students “prohibited” from cell phone use during school day

Elia Holland and Lily Johnson

May 18, 2026

Four student phones placed together on a table away from students.

On May 5, House Bill 1009 was officially been signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. This law will restrict personal electronic device use in Georgia schools on a bell-to-bell schedule, meaning from the start of school hours to the end students will not be allowed to go onto their phones or other personal devices. This bill is set to limit “access [to] viewing, holding, wearing or otherwise using a device for the purpose of communication, internet access, gaming, recording, listening to music or any other functions commonly associated with personal electronic devices,” according to the language of the new law.

Melinda Berry-Dreisbach is responsible for communicating news to the Fayette County school system as the Public Information Officer.

“The school system has not yet decided whether to use locking pouches or allow students to keep their phones powered off in their backpacks or purses throughout the school day. A final decision may be made after the current school year ends,” Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said.

Berry-Dreisbach also stated that a parent survey was taken, in which “the results were shared with the Board of Education during a work session on Monday… the majority of [parents] preferred allowing students to keep their phones with them in a powered-off state.”

Infographic detailing the parent’s preference of what to do about banning phones. (Melinda Berry-Dreisbach)

Neither of these decisions are final, a different choice may be made before the 2026-27 school year.

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About the Contributors

Elia Holland, Staff

Elia is a first year staffer who loves to read and write. This year, she would like to write opinions and work her way up to editing for the McIntosh Trail. Holland would like to try her hand at creating layouts and shooting photos and videos for the Trail. Holland’s writing helped her accomplish the highest ELA state test score on her team. In elementary and middle school Elia was awarded with three reading and/or writing awards. She has a pet chinchilla named Moonpie and likes painting on anything but paper and canvas. She is the second child out of her four siblings and even if Holland won’t admit it, she loves them dearly.

Lily Johnson, Opinion Editor

Lily Johnson is a junior at McIntosh High School and is serving her third year on the Trail and is currently serving as the Opinion Editor. During Johnson’s free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors. She loves going on long golf cart rides, watching the sunset and spending time with friends and family. She enjoys listening to music, her favorite genres consisting of punk, rock, and metal. “I think spending time with family is very important so I try to spend as much time with them as I can.”