WATERTOWN, MASS. (March 17, 2026) — Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) has introduced AB 2071, the Digital Wellness Education Act, which would require California middle and high schools to incorporate digital wellness instruction into existing health education classes.
As students increasingly encounter social media algorithms, AI-generated content, chatbots, and the pressures of constant digital connectivity, concerns are growing about how technology affects student learning and mental health.
AB 2071 builds on Hoover’s landmark Phone-Free Schools Act (AB 3216), signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024.
“California has taken action to regulate screen time during the school day, but we must also equip students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world they are growing up in today,” said Assemblyman Hoover. “AB 2071 will ensure students learn how to thoughtfully evaluate digital and AI content and develop screen time habits that support their mental and physical well-being, safety, and learning.”
“Digital wellness education is an important step in helping students understand how today’s media and technology systems shape the information they see and the habits they develop,” said Kyra Brissette, CEO of Media Literacy Now. “By integrating these lessons into health education, AB 2071 helps ensure students learn how to engage with digital platforms thoughtfully and responsibly.”
AB 2071 was authored by students of GENup, California’s largest youth-led education advocacy organization, and it is backed by Media Literacy Now, Media Education Lab, California Media Literacy Coalition, University of San Diego’s Youth Media Insights Lab, and National Association for Media Arts Education.
AB 2071 will advance through the California Legislature this spring, with the goal of reaching Governor Newsom’s desk this summer.
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About Media Literacy Now
Media Literacy Now is a nonprofit organization driving reform of the U.S. public education system to ensure all students have an opportunity to learn the key 21st century literacy skills they need for health, well-being, economic participation, and citizenship. For more information, go to MediaLiteracyNow.org.
About GENup
GENup is a California-based, nationwide student-led organization dedicated to transforming education policy by amplifying youth voices. GENup empowers students to drive meaningful reform at every level, from local school boards to state legislatures, ensuring that the next generation shapes its own future. For more information, go to www.generationup.net
