Correctional Services - Immigration Detention Facilities - Original Design and Construction
HB0630, titled the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, requires each county board of education to adopt and implement a policy limiting student cellular phone use during instructional time no later than the 2026-2027 school year. The bill generally prohibits students from using cell phones during instructional time, requires phones to be stored in a secure place, and directs county boards to restrict access to specified social media applications and websites during school hours.
The bill includes several exceptions. A student may use a phone when allowed by an individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan, to address a documented health issue, during an emergency event, or when an educator or administrator directs use for educational purposes. Each policy must also include disciplinary measures for violations, including a warning for a first offense, and those measures must be enforced by an administrator.
The bill would add a new section to the Education Article, creating a statewide mandate for county boards of education to establish student cell phone restrictions during the school day. It would not directly ban phones by statute in every circumstance, but it would require local school systems to adopt policies meeting minimum standards on storage, use restrictions, social media limits, and discipline. The measure would affect students, parents, county boards, school administrators, and special education and health-related accommodations.
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote data, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge sentiment from the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears to reflect a policy preference for limiting distractions and social media use in schools while preserving exceptions for educational, medical, emergency, and disability-related needs.
The main points of potential contention are the breadth of the phone restrictions and how they would be enforced in local schools. Supporters are likely to favor the classroom-management and student-focus goals, while opponents may be concerned about student access for family communication, emergency use, and local flexibility. Another likely area of debate is the requirement to prohibit certain social media use during school hours and the practical burden on county boards and administrators to implement and discipline violations consistently.