Overview

• Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481 requiring public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to prohibit personal communication devices during instruction and set disciplinary measures for violations.
• Exceptions are limited to medical needs, approved educational programs and compliance with health or safety regulations.
• In Richardson Independent School District, 85 percent of teachers reported regained instructional time and fewer distractions under a local phone ban.
• Opponents caution that strict prohibitions could hamper students’ ability to contact help in emergencies, noting cellphone use during the 2022 Uvalde shooting.
• Other states such as Arkansas and Pennsylvania are weighing or promoting district-level phone policies while countries including the UK, Australia and Brazil have adopted similar restrictions with tailored exemptions.