Overview

• Under HB 1481, Houston ISD has adopted an all-day ban requiring devices be stored in backpacks or locked bins, with tiered confiscation and parent pickup on repeat violations.
• Round Rock and Pflugerville ISDs are enforcing out-of-sight rules allowing phones on students’ person if not visible, reflecting local flexibility in policy execution.
• The Texas Education Agency is offering a $30 million Phone Free Schools Grant for secure storage solutions and permits districts to dispose of unclaimed devices after 90 days.
• Medical and special education exemptions are strictly limited and district-owned devices for instructional use remain unaffected by the ban.
• Parent and school leaders have raised emergency contact and safety concerns, leading districts to craft protocols to balance enforcement with communication access.