"Today's action means that Massachusetts is one step closer to making schools cell phone-free," said Senate President Karen Spilka and Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education in a statement.

Massachusetts Senate Democrats were preparing to advance legislation Tuesday that requires all public schools to implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on student access to personal electronic devices

Supporters have argued the devices in school distract students and encourage heavy use of social media, contributing to a growing mental health crisis among the nation’s youth.