Nonprofit Organizations Navigator - Termination Provision - Repeal
HB0147 requires county boards of education to adopt student technology-use policies for elementary and middle schools. The bill directs each county board to prohibit students in those grades from using cellular phones or personal electronic devices during school hours, and it also requires a limitation on the use of smartphones and devices connected to smartphones during instructional time. The bill defines “personal electronic device” broadly to include smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and smart glasses.
The bill includes exceptions so that schools may not prohibit device use when it is required by a student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan, when needed to monitor or address a documented health issue, or when an educator or administrator directs use for educational purposes. It also exempts county boards that already have a policy meeting the bill’s requirements. Any adopted policy must be posted on the county board website and included in student handbooks, and the measure takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB0147 would add a new section to the Education Article requiring county boards of education to adopt and publicize student device-use policies for elementary and middle schools. It would create a statewide baseline restriction on student cellphone and personal electronic device use during school hours, while preserving local flexibility for boards that already have comparable policies and for school-based exceptions tied to special education, health needs, and instructional use. The bill would affect county boards of education, school administrators, students in elementary and middle school, and families reviewing school handbook rules.
The available legislative context shows the bill moving forward in the House with a favorable committee report and adoption on second reading, which suggests general support for the policy. The bill’s stated purpose is straightforward and safety- and classroom-management-oriented, indicating a likely consensus around limiting distractions in younger grades. No vote breakdown or committee transcript is provided, so there is no record here of organized opposition or detailed debate, but the amendment process suggests the measure may have been refined to clarify device definitions and exceptions.
The main points of contention likely concern how broad the prohibition should be, especially the inclusion of personal electronic devices beyond cellphones and the restriction during instructional time. Potential concerns would come from parents, students, and advocates worried about access to devices for communication, safety, or accommodations, while supporters would emphasize reduced distraction and improved classroom focus. The bill addresses some of those concerns by carving out exceptions for IEPs, Section 504 plans, documented health issues, and educator-directed educational use.