A Texas bill that would prohibit K-12 students from using cell phones during school hours has been signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Rep. Caroline Fairly of Amarillo introduced House Bill 1481, which restricts kids from using cell phones during the school day.
Over the previous few years, at least eight states have implemented such restrictions, including Democrat-led California and Republican-led Arkansas.
HB 1481 gives school districts some freedom in deciding whether to allow cellphone use during extracurricular activities. Schools would also be able to choose whether to limit cellphone use by forbidding kids from bringing their devices to school or by establishing a “secure storage” area for them.
The restriction also prohibits the use of any gadget “capable of telecommunication or digital communication,” such as a smartwatch, flip phone, and pager.
The ban would exclude certain pupils. According to HB 1481, kids in some special education settings will be permitted to use smartphones if they are required for instruction or if a physician certifies that the student needs the device.
The law will become effective at the start of the 2025-26 school year.