Abbott signs bill banning students from using cell phones

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill banning Texas students from using cell phones during the school day.  House Bill 1481 requires public school districts or open-enrollment charter school to adopt and implement policies prohibiting students from using a “personal communication device” in the course of school hours.

The list of banned personal communication devices includes cell phones, tablets, smart watches, radio devices, paging devices or any other electronic devices “capable of telecommunication or digital communication.”  The bill makes exceptions for devices provided by the school.  There are also exceptions for devices needed for an education program, if a student has a doctor’s note or if it is necessary to comply with health or safety requirements or the school’s safety protocols.

HB 1481 provides some flexibility for school districts, allowing them to decide whether to allow cellphone use during extracurricular activities.  Schools would also be able to decide whether they want to restrict cellphone use by prohibiting students from bringing their device to school or designating a “secure storage” space for their devices.

At least eight states have enacted similar bans over the last few years.  The law will take effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year.  School boards have 90 days to adopt the cell phone policy.