RAMSEY - A local high school student acknowledged Thursday that when the school banned cell phones a year ago, there was much angst among students.

After all, this generation of high schoolers have not known a world without cell phones and the instant communication that goes with it.

But then ...

As the ban set in, "students actually started talking to each other."  And when students changed classes, the halls were filled with voices and laughter as opposed to everyone just staring at their phones.

That's precisely what Phil Murphy has in mind for the entire state.

In what may be one of his last consequential acts, the governor was in Ramsey High School to sign a bill that effectively bans cell phones in schools from "bell to bell."

He called it "just plain common sense" and something that may reverberate across the nation.

Murphy framed the move as helping public education. He also liked the event's location - the band room - noting that he played the clarinet in high school.

He and other speakers said that taking phones away from students during the school day will increase attentiveness, help teachers, and perhaps most importantly, encourage students to communicate with each other face to face. Murphy referred to evidence today of some adolescents feeling isolated and cut off from society, which in extreme cases can lead to suicidal thoughts.

This was a bipartisan initiative.

A press release distributed by the governor's office highlighted support from such Republicans as Anthony M. Bucco (pictured), the Senate Minority Leader, and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn.

Of course, not all in Trenton concur.

Republican Assemblyman Brian Bergen spoke against the bill, saying regulating student cell phone use should be left to local boards of education.

Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the idea is not to "punish" students, but to make learning easier and to help them restore "eye contact."

Murphy, more broadly, said this is no indication that his administration is anti-technology. On the contrary, the governor said New Jersey is moving briskly to understand how AI can help New Jersey move forward.

The phone initiative, he said, will help students, especially in the long run.

The cell phone legislation is also backed by incoming governor Mikie Sherrill, who, according to the governor's release, said this:

“I applaud the governor for taking a big step to protect our kids by making schools a safe, phone-free place to learn. Our young people are facing a mental health crisis - but, we all know that when children put the screens down, their mental health and academic results improve."