Hobbs signs bills on what Arizona students eat at school and when they can use their phones

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed bills impacting what students eat at school and when they can use their phones while on campus.

Republican lawmakers introduced a bill banning schools from selling students ultraprocessed foods that contain ingredients like red dye 40, citing concerns about the ingredients potential health risks.

The legislation mirrors federal efforts led by President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy joined lawmakers at the Capitol last week to celebrate the bill’s passage through the House, touting it as part of Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. As they, too, voted for the bill, Democrats pointedly thanked Michelle Obama for leading this movement years ago, pointing out that she was ridiculed at the time by Republicans.

The bill passed out of the Legislature unanimously.

The governor signed a separate bill that requires schools to restrict students’ use of cellphones and social media during the school day — with some exceptions for emergencies, medical conditions and school-sanctioned use.

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“Education requires attention, and attention is exactly what today’s students are being robbed of by addictive devices and endless scrolling,” the bill’s sponsor Rep. Beverly Pingerelli (R-Peoria) said in a statement. “We’ve drawn a clear line: Arizona classrooms are for learning, not TikTok. Teachers can finally reclaim their classrooms, and parents can feel confident their kids are actually focused on school — not their screens.”

Sen. Shawnna Bolick (R-Phoenix) cited a study from the Pew Research Center showing that 72% of high school teachers report cellphone use is a problem in their classrooms.

Hobbs vetoed a version of the same bill last year, calling it unnecessary as many schools already have policies in place regarding cellphone use.

This year, it passed through the Legislature with some bipartisan support, although it was not unanimous.