As a bill banning cell phones in public schools picks up steam on Beacon Hill, parents and advocates against early smartphone use are speaking out in favor as well.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed 13 bills into law on Wednesday, including a sweeping education bill that bans students from using cell phones in schools during the school day.

The Parents Television and Media Council reports that every U.S. state has made some effort to curb classroom cell phone use.

It might be too late for parents to dream about a screen-free summer for their kids, but the Massachusetts Senate is moving closer to banning them in classrooms statewide.

There are some exceptions to the proposed “phone-free” rule, which if passed would go into effect on July 1 of next year. The policy comes amid new state legislation giving school districts until July 2026 to “restrict or prohibit the use of mobile communication devices” on campuses during school hours.

The Knox County Board of Education voted to advance a policy limiting student cell phone use during school hours.

Congressman Chris Deluzio is trying to figure out a plan that can give individual school districts flexibility while addressing the fact that there is a national crisis among children with smart phone and social media addictions.