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Bill > HB515

TX HB515

TX HB515
Relating to public school policies regarding student use of personal electronic devices.

summary

Introduced
11/12/2024
In Committee
03/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/02/2025

Introduced Session

89th Legislature Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT relating to public school policies regarding student use of personal electronic devices.

AI Summary

This bill requires school districts in Texas to adopt a strict policy restricting students' use of personal electronic devices (defined as digital devices capable of displaying text, audio, images, or videos) during the school day. Specifically, the policy must mandate that students immediately place their personal electronic devices in a secure, lockable container provided by the district upon arriving at school, which prevents device access throughout the school day and allows retrieval only at the end of the day. The policy must include clear enforcement provisions and allow students to contact parents using a school-provided telephone if needed. The only exceptions to the device ban are for students who have written medical documentation demonstrating a necessity to access their device to manage a diagnosed medical condition. The Texas Education Agency is required to collect and annually report data on the policy's effectiveness from 2025 to 2030, including measurements of its impact on student behavior, mental health, disciplinary incidents, and stakeholder opinions. The bill will apply starting in the 2025-2026 school year and will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in the legislature, or on September 1, 2025, if it does not receive that threshold of support.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (75)

Rhetta Bowers (D)*,  Caroline Harris Davila (R)*,  Claudia Ordaz Perez (D)*,  Ellen Troxclair (R)*,  Gary VanDeaver (R)*,  Daniel Alders (R),  Jeffrey Barry (R),  Cecil Bell (R),  Keith Bell (R),  Greg Bonnen (R),  John Bryant (D),  Ben Bumgarner (R),  Briscoe Cain (R),  Sheryl Cole (D),  David Cook (R),  Tom Craddick (R),  Pat Curry (R),  Aicha Davis (D),  Mano DeAyala (R),  Mark Dorazio (R),  Paul Dyson (R),  James Frank (R),  Josey Garcia (D),  Gary Gates (R),  Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D),  Mary González (D),  Ryan Guillen (R),  Richard Hayes (R),  Janis Holt (R),  Andy Hopper (R),  Lacey Hull (R),  Carrie Isaac (R),  Jo Jones (D),  Venton Jones (D),  Helen Kerwin (R),  Stan Kitzman (R),  Suleman Lalani (D),  Jeff Leach (R),  Terri Leo-Wilson (R),  Mitch Little (R),  Janie Lopez (R),  A.J. Louderback (R),  David Lowe (R),  J.M. Lozano (R),  Shelley Luther (R),  Christian Manuel (D),  Trey Martinez Fischer (D),  Don McLaughlin (R),  John McQueeney (R),  Will Metcalf (R),  Brent Money (R),  Joe Moody (D),  Eddie Morales (D),  Penny Morales Shaw (D),  Mike Olcott (R),  Tom Oliverson (R),  Angelia Orr (R),  Dennis Paul (R),  Katrina Pierson (R),  Richard Raymond (D),  Keresa Richardson (R),  Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos (D),  Nate Schatzline (R),  Mike Schofield (R),  Alan Schoolcraft (R),  Joanne Shofner (R),  Lauren Simmons (D),  Shelby Slawson (R),  David Spiller (R),  Tony Tinderholt (R),  Steve Toth (R),  Cody Vasut (R),  Denise Villalobos (R),  Wesley Virdell (R),  Trey Wharton (R), 

Last Action

Referred to Public Education (on 03/03/2025)

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