Indiana Bill: SB 78

Bill Summary

SB 78 (Public Law 107) requires every Indiana school district and charter school to adopt a “wireless communication device” policy under which students must either leave personal devices at home or keep them powered off and inaccessible for the entire school day, covering phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices. The law allows limited exceptions for devices written into a student’s IEP or 504 plan, medically necessary devices ordered by a licensed provider, language‑translation needs (with a preference for school‑managed devices), and emergencies, and directs the Department of Education to publish model policy language while granting schools civil liability immunity for good‑faith enforcement.

Why It Matters to the Make America Healthy Again Movement

The MAHA Movement supports this law because it creates bell‑to‑bell, low‑screen school days by taking phones and other personal devices out of kids’ hands, which is central to MAHA’s aim of reducing digital distraction, social‑media stress, and sedentary, screen‑heavy time during school. By pairing a strong in‑school device restriction with clear exceptions for health, disability, and emergencies—and giving districts model policies and legal protection—SB 78 makes it far easier for Indiana schools to create calmer, more focused, movement‑friendly learning environments.