Bill > HB684

This bill requires local school boards in Mississippi to develop and implement age-appropriate cell phone policies for public schools that restrict student cell phone use during the academic school day (defined as "bell-to-bell," including lunch and between class periods). The bill mandates different policy approaches for elementary, middle, and high schools, with elementary students having the most restrictive rules (phones must be turned off and stored), and high school students having slightly more flexibility outside of instructional time. Key provisions include: prohibiting cell phone use during instructional hours, ensuring students cannot be suspended or expelled solely for cell phone policy violations, requiring schools to establish procedures for off-site events, and mandating that school districts incorporate emergency communication protocols into their policies. The bill defines various terms like "cell phone" and "personal electronic communication device" broadly to include current and future technologies, and requires schools to make their cell phone policies publicly available on their websites. Importantly, the legislation allows exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans who may need devices for health monitoring or as assistive technology. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving schools time to develop and implement compliant policies.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0684.xml