JEFFERSON CITY — A new state law banning cellphones in schools is among a package of legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Kehoe, a Republican in his first year as chief executive, spent the day signing 13 bills sent to him by lawmakers this spring.

Along with the cellphone ban, which won’t take effect until the 2026-27 school year, the governor raised the legal age for getting married, paved the way for homeschooled students to play on public school sports teams, boosted penalties for hazing and gave public safety personnel and their families free college tuition.

"From implementing distraction-free classrooms to expanding school safety efforts, the legislation signed into law this afternoon impacts both K-12 students and Missourians pursuing higher and career technical education," Kehoe said.

The cellphone legislation included in Senate Bill 68 will bar school students from using their phones from the beginning of the school day until the final bell rings.

Its passage reflects widespread voter support, according to polling conducted by St. Louis University and YouGov in February.

Over 70% of likely Missouri voters favor prohibiting students from accessing cellphones during regular instructional activities across all K–12 schools, the survey found.

“It’s rare to see such agreement on any education issue, but voters across political and demographic lines agree that cellphones should be off-limits during school hours,” said Ashley Burle, associate director of the SLU/YouGov Poll.

The measure allows school districts to develop the specifics of their phone policies, but the ban includes no phones during mealtimes, time between classes or study halls.

School policies also will have to outline disciplinary procedures for violations and include exceptions for students who need devices due to specific educational or health needs.

Kehoe, who is traveling the state to sign other legislation into law later in the week, also signed Senate Bill 63, which allows kids who are homeschooled to participate in public school extracurricular sports.

An estimated 61,000 students in Missouri are homeschooled, representing about 6% of the state’s student population.

Along with requiring schools to offer sports and other activities to homeschoolers, students also will have to comply with certain rules if they wish to participate in school-related activities.

Students, for example, would have to adhere to the same behavior, responsibility, performance and conduct standards directly related to the event or activity as do students who are enrolled in the school.

Kehoe also approved Senate Bill 43, which raises the legal age of marriage in Missouri to 18 with no exceptions.

Currently, 16- and 17-year-olds can get married with parental approval. Minors cannot get married to someone over 21.

Sen. Tracy McCreery, the bill’s sponsor, has pushed for the policy change, saying it is important to prevent parents from allowing their children to be married to noncitizens to create a pathway to citizenship.

The governor’s actions also stop the state’s child welfare agency from using foster children’s benefits like Social Security to pay for their care as is currently done.

The bill also eliminates legal standing for nondisclosure agreements involving childhood sexual abuse.

“Today’s action on this legislation is about standing up for the most vulnerable Missourians; those who often times cannot advocate for themselves,” Kehoe said. “Protecting these individuals is not just a priority, it’s a responsibility we all share, and we appreciate the General Assembly for sending this legislation to my desk. We must provide safety, support and dignity to those who need it most.”

Another new law makes it easier for college students to be proactive in stopping hazing before potentially dangerous situations.

The law would provide immunity from prosecution to people who violate anti-hazing laws but take a series of life-saving measures to help victims.

Immunity would be granted if the individual is the first to call police and remains with the victim until the authorities arrive. The bill also allows those who provide medical assistance like CPR on a victim to be immune from prosecution.

The law was inspired by former University of Missouri student Danny Santulli, who cannot walk, talk or see after being forced to drink at a Phi Gamma Delta hazing event in Columbia in 2021.

Members of the fraternity waited hours to bring him to the hospital. Santulli had a blood-alcohol content of .486, six times the legal limit.

Kehoe also signed House Bill 419, which will give public safety professionals like police officers, firefighters and paramedics, free tuition to attend a Missouri college when they reach six or more years’ worth of service. Their dependents can get free tuition after reaching 10 years of service. The amount of people who utilize the program will be limited to how well funded it is by the Legislature.