Requiring school districts to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education.
Summary
HB 781 requires every school board and the board of trustees of chartered public schools to adopt a policy governing student use of cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices in schools. At a minimum, the policy must restrict student use of personal cell phones during class instruction, while allowing exceptions approved by the superintendent or designee for medical, disability, or language-access needs.
The bill also protects students who need devices for medical reasons, such as insulin pumps and glucose sensors, and students with disabilities whose use of a device is identified in an individualized education program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan. In addition, it preserves the ability to use devices when needed to support emergent multilingual students through appropriate language access programs and services. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends RSA 189:1-a by adding a new requirement for school districts and chartered public schools to adopt cell phone and personal device policies. It does not mandate a single statewide ban, but it does require local policies to limit phone use during instruction and to include specified exceptions. The fiscal note indicates no state fiscal impact and indeterminable local costs that may vary by district.
Sentiment
The available record suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, with the measure advancing as adopted by both bodies and no recorded committee transcript or vote opposition included in the provided materials. The bill’s structure reflects a compromise approach: it supports classroom phone restrictions while explicitly preserving accommodations for medical, disability, and language-access needs.
Contention
The main policy tension is between reducing classroom distractions and preserving flexibility for legitimate student needs. Supporters of restrictions are likely focused on improving attention and classroom management, while potential concerns center on implementation burdens for districts and ensuring exceptions are applied consistently. The bill addresses likely objections by expressly protecting students using medical devices, students with disabilities, and emergent multilingual students.