Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateWashingtonIntroduced
SB 5346: Restricting mobile device usage by public school students.
Marko Liias
SB 5346 status: Introduced — Effective date 6/11/2026 (updated Mar 25, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
58OUT OF 100
Score:58/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 50/100
Constitutionality85%
Bipartisan90%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill introduces statewide limitations or a total ban on the use of cell phones by students while in public schools.
Who is affected
Public school students, teachers, administrators, and parents of students in Washington state.
Requirements and enforcement
The bill imposes a restriction on the possession or use of mobile devices on school property.
Costs and funding
Not stated in the available source; however, implementation costs for enforcement and storage may be incurred by school districts.
When it takes effect
The bill includes an effective date of 6/11/2026.
Potential benefits
Potential for reduced distraction, improved focus, and a decline in digital social stressors during the school day.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential disruption of parental communication, emergency management concerns, and school-level enforcement burdens.
What is still unknown
Specific exemptions for students with medical needs, disabilities, or other specialized requirements are not described in the summary.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- May reduce classroom distractions during instruction
- Could foster increased face-to-face social interaction
- Potential reduction in school-day cyberbullying incidents
Risks
- Limits direct contact between students and parents
- May cause logistical strain on school staff enforcement
- Reduces students' access to personal tools for learning
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Potentially lowers student anxiety related to social media
- Supports environments with fewer interruptions to safety protocols
- Reduces screen-time related sedentary behavior during school
Risks
- Limits student access to real-time safety alerts
- Disrupts personal communication channels during emergencies
- Forces reliance on institutional communication systems
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
LegiScan returned a PDF-only document. PDF extraction is not enabled in this build, so the pipeline used a safer fallback.
Analysis scope
Analysis based on limited abstract; specific bill language or exemptions are not provided.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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