Bill > HB131

This bill requires school boards to develop and adopt policies specifically addressing student cell phone use during school hours. The policies must restrict personal cell phone usage during class instruction, with the requirement that students can only use cell phones with educator approval. However, the bill also encourages districts to consider allowing cell phone use when educators are intentionally incorporating devices into their lesson plans. Importantly, the legislation includes a critical provision ensuring that students with disabilities can use devices to support their learning as outlined in their individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan, which are legal documents that detail specialized educational support for students with disabilities. The policy will go into effect 60 days after the bill's passage, giving school districts time to draft and implement their specific cell phone use guidelines. By mandating these policies, the bill aims to minimize classroom distractions while maintaining flexibility for educational and accessibility purposes.

Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0218&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB131