Bill > HB2421

This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to implement policies that prohibit students from using personal electronic communication devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches, during regular school hours, with exceptions for medical necessity or individualized education programs, and mandates that these devices be turned off and stored securely. It also prohibits school employees from directly communicating with students via social media platforms for official school purposes, which are defined as public, one-way communications about school events, unless a specific platform is approved for such use. Furthermore, by September 1, 2026, schools must report to the state board of education on the average screen time experienced by students in kindergarten through fourth grade during a typical school day, with this data to be published online, and these provisions do not apply to virtual schools.