“Texas House Bill 1481” is a new law as of June 20, 2025 that would start a major change in schooling forever. This law addresses multiple types of electronic devices and their personal use in schooling as a whole as well as a definitive date that each school must adopt the bill by, which is September 18, 2025.
The bill starts by listing multiple requirements for what must be done in each school district. The first requirement is the prohibition of student use of their personal devices that are able to communicate with others as stated in the Texas Education Code. That code includes the following devices: cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and any other device able to communicate digitally or over the telephone.
The bill continues by including a section on disciplinary actions and how districts must include some way of disciplining their students who break the bill’s law. The bill also brings up the requirement of how the schools must either implement a method for the students to store their devices during the school day, or not allow students to bring their devices at all.
For storing them during the day, districts have multiple options. One option is a new system called Yondr Pouches. These are small fabric pouches with a lock at the top. Students insert their phone, and similar devices, into the pouch and then the student, or a teacher, magnetically locks the pouch. The student places the pouch into their bag and go on with the school day. Once the day is over, the students remove the pouch from their bag and take it to a designated unlocking station where they can remove their phone from the pouch.
Another common method used for a similar outcome is allowing students to keep their phones in their bag, but out of sight. This option includes not allowing students to keep devices in their pockets or similar areas as defined by the out of sight portion of the method.
Another option is slightly different and does not allow students to bring any devices to school at all. This means students cannot have devices in their bags, pockets, etcetera.
The policy goes on to state how there must be exceptions to the law. These exceptions are done when a student is “required to implement an individualized education program (IEP), a Section 504 plan, or similar plan,” when a student is required to for medical needs as allowed by a physician, and when a student is required to by a legal health or safety department.
After providing the requirements, a section follows that is there “to assist with consistent and effective implementation” of the bill as well as a link to learn more. The bill contains a section about “Grant Funding Available for Implementation” which discusses how 20 million dollars have been put aside in assisting schools to conform with this new bill and similar points such as priorities for funding.
The bill comes to a conclusion after the grant section with a final statement telling school districts that if they have any questions about the bill itself, or anything of that nature, they can contact [email protected] through email. More details about this bill can be found by looking on the Texas Education Agency website or by clicking the link provided here: https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/implementation-of-texas-house-bill-1481-student-use-of-personal-communication-devices-on-school-property
Source:
Texas Education Agency
Yondr Pouches
