North Carolina Rep. Biggs cell phone-free education bill passes both chambers of North Carolina General Assembly

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Brian Biggs aims to reduce classroom distractions by requiring public school units to implement cell phone-free education policies and notify parents of these rules, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 47 Democrats and 67 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while three Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 30 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 19 Democrats voted against it.

Biggs filed the bill in the North Carolina House on Feb. 10 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 87, was passed on July 29 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Cell Phone-Free Education.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that governing bodies of public school units in North Carolina develop and implement a cell phone-free education policy, which will either eliminate or significantly restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time. It requires these bodies to inform parents of the adopted policy at the start of each school year. The intent appears to be to minimize distractions in the classroom, promoting a more focused educational environment. The act will take effect upon becoming law and is set to apply starting with the 2025-26 school year.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Brian Biggs (Republican-70th District), Rep. Neal Jackson (Republican-78th District), and Rep. Blair Eddins (Republican-94th District), along with one other sponsor.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Biggs, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 70th House district, replacing previous state representative Patricia Hurley.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.