Is N.J. about to ban cellphones in all classrooms? A powerful N.J. lawmaker just said yes.

Efforts to ban cellphones in New Jersey’s public school classrooms have a powerful new supporter in Trenton.

State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin told NJ Advance Media that he favors approving a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Coughlin, the second-highest-ranking state lawmaker in New Jersey, said it’s one of his goals to pass the plan before the current legislative session ends Jan. 20.

The Middlesex County Democrat specifically referenced an Assembly bill, A4882 , that would direct the state Department of Education to develop a policy prohibiting non-academic use of a cellphone or social media during classroom instruction, with some exceptions.

Many of New Jersey’s approximately 600 public school districts already restrict cellphone use in c