New York 2025 Session Status: Introduced

S10685 — Enacts the "Fostering Optimal Classroom Use of Screens (FOCUS) act" to limit use of internet enabled devices and prioritize non-digital teaching methods

Last action — In Senate Committee

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced August 21, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The FOCUS act limits internet-enabled devices in classrooms and promotes non-digital teaching methods.

The FOCUS act places restrictions on the use of electronic devices in classrooms, aiming to encourage traditional teaching methods. It prohibits younger students from using these devices and limits older students' usage, including banning certain applications.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families may see less screen time for younger students in educational settings, potentially encouraging more traditional learning approaches.

Summary

Enacts the "fostering optimal classroom use of screens (FOCUS) act" to limit use of internet enabled and electronic devices and prioritize non-digital teaching methods; prohibits use by younger students; limits and restricts certain uses by older students; requires written policies for opting in for the school issued devices; prohibits social media applications, gaming and AI in school issued devices; requires registration by educational technology providers.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. REFERRED TO RULES

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 218 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (218)

218 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does S10685 do?
Enacts the "fostering optimal classroom use of screens (FOCUS) act" to limit use of internet enabled and electronic devices and prioritize non-digital teaching methods; prohibits use by younger students; limits and restricts certain uses by older students; requires written policies for opting in for the school issued devices; prohibits social media applications, gaming and AI in school issued devices; requires registration by educational technology providers.
Who sponsors S10685?
S10685 is sponsored by Andrew Gounardes.
What is the current status of S10685?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced August 21, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S10685?
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Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

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