(WENY) -- New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing for cell phones to be banned in the classroom statewide. Hochul proposed on Wednesday legislation as part of the state budget, in hopes of passing the a bill in time for the upcoming academic year.

The governor highlighted the continual issues smartphones bring to teens and young adults, describing it as a major disruption.

"Our kids will finally be freed from the endless disruptions of social media and all the mental health pressures that come from it," says Gov. Hochul. 

In the Southern Tier, the Hornell City School District implanted a phone ban back at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

Superintendent Jeremy Palotti told WENY News in an email: "It has been positive from a student engagement standpoint and we are interacting with far fewer cases of technology-assisted bullying complaints."

Palotti said even though the first half of the school year is over, he isn't concerned the data or consensus on the issue will change.

Over at Horseheads High School, cell phones were put away this week for Regents testing. However, this is not a normal day-to-day rule, but some teachers choose their own rules, according to Superintendent, Dr. Thomas Douglas.

"We have to learn balance and trying to find that," explains Superintendent Douglas. "That's what we hope and I think our teachers try to exemplify that regularly. You've seen in our classrooms that teachers have already had storage systems put in and that they utilize them the best way they can and work with the kids."

Looking ahead to the possibility of cell phones being banned in the classroom, Dr. Douglas says he's waiting to see how the governor's plan takes shape and how it might impact schools like his. 

"Here at Horseheads High School, it's going to be like other schools across the state. We have to wait and see what the details of the governor's plan [are] as it's proposed. There are good things about it, but there are also some things that maybe others won't agree with," says Douglas.

Under Hochul's plan, non-internet-based devices will be allowed in the classroom, like flip phones or mobile devices restricted from surfing the web. However, smartphones like iPhones, Androids, Google Pixels, and so on would need to be put away in the "bell to bell" initiative. This would also include smart watches and tablets.

The governor stressed the importance of making this change a reality.

"These young people are calling us for help, as the adults, the policymakers, put down that phone," said Gov. Hochul. 

Hochul explained that there will be exceptions for medical devices and other specific needs. At the end of her press conference, she said, schools are welcome to begin enforcing the ban today, but her goal is to make it permanent come the 2025-2026 school year.

Governor Hochul's press conference surrounding the topic can be watched in full by clicking here. 

A list of schools with bans, restrictions, or considerations is listed below. All the information was provided by AP News in an article found here, updated on January 16th, 2025.

Cell phones are banned or restricted in: California, Minnesota, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia.

States looking to ban cell phones through a proposal include: Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Idaho, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

There is a policy recommendation or a pilot program under consideration in: Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Alaska.

States with no official ruling or considerable action include: Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia, Washington D.C., New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Hawaii.