HB1961
Public elementary & secondary schools; bell-to-bell student cell phone & smart device possession.
Status:
Enacted
Latest Action:
April 2, 2025
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644)
Chief Patron:
Sam Rasoul (D)
Session:
2025 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Public elementary and secondary schools; student discipline; student cell phone and smart devicepossession and use policies; development and implementation.
Directs each school board to develop and each public elementary and secondary school to implement age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate policies relating to the possession and use of cell phones and smart devices by students on school property from bell to bell, as that term is defined in the bill. The ... (More) bill requires such policies to (i) restrict, to the fullest extent possible, student cell phone possession and use in the classroom from bell to bell; (ii) aim to reduce or prevent any distraction in or disruption to the learning environment, including bullying or harassment, that could be caused or facilitated by student cell phone possession and use on school property from bell to bell; (iii) ensure that implementation and enforcement of the policy is the responsibility of the administration, minimizes, to the extent possible, any conflict with the instructional responsibilities of teachers or any disruption to instructional time, and does not involve any school resource officer; (iv) include exceptions to such policies permitting any student, pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan or Section 504 Plan or if otherwise deemed appropriate by the school board, to possess and use a cell phone on school property, including in the classroom, during regular school hours to monitor or address a health concern; and (v) expressly prohibit any student from being suspended or expelled as a consequence of any violation of such policies. Finally, the bill clarifies that (a) no violation of any such student cell phone possession and use policy shall alone constitute sufficient cause for a student's suspension or expulsion from attendance at school and (b) any such violation that involves, coincides with, or results in an instance of disruptive behavior, as that term is defined in applicable law, shall be addressed in accordance with the regulations on codes of student conduct adopted by each school board pursuant to applicable law. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/06/2025 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103580D
- 01/06/2025 - House: Referred to Committee on Education
- 01/24/2025 - House: Assigned Educ sub: K-12 Subcommittee
- 01/24/2025 - House: Placed on Education Agenda
- 01/28/2025 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 2-N)
- 01/28/2025 - House: Placed on Education Agenda
- 01/28/2025 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1961)
- 01/29/2025 - House: Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 6-N)
- 01/29/2025 - House: Committee substitute printed 25106011D-H1
- 01/31/2025 - House: Read first time
- 02/03/2025 - House: Read second time
- 02/03/2025 - House: Education Substitute agreed to
- 02/03/2025 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/04/2025 - House: Read third time and passed House (69-Y 30-N)
- 02/05/2025 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/05/2025 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
- 02/10/2025 - Senate: Assigned Education sub: Public Education
- 02/13/2025 - Senate: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
- 02/13/2025 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 25107492D-S1
- 02/14/2025 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1961)
- 02/17/2025 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/17/2025 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N)
- 02/17/2025 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/18/2025 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/19/2025 - Senate: Read third time
- 02/19/2025 - Senate: Reading of substitute waived
- 02/19/2025 - Senate: Education and Health Substitute agreed to
- 02/19/2025 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 02/19/2025 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) Close Floor Vote
- 02/20/2025 - House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (75-Y 22-N)
- 03/07/2025 - House: Enrolled
- 03/07/2025 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1961ER)
- 03/07/2025 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1961)
- 03/07/2025 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/10/2025 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/11/2025 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
- 03/11/2025 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
- 03/24/2025 - Governor's recommendation received by House
- 03/24/2025 - House: Governor's substitute printed (HB1961H2)
- 04/02/2025 - House: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (96-Y 0-N)
- 04/02/2025 - Senate: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
- 04/02/2025 - Governor's recommendation adopted
- 04/02/2025 - House: Reenrolled
- 04/02/2025 - House: Reenrolled bill text (HB1961ER2)
- 04/02/2025 - House: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
- 04/02/2025 - Senate: Signed by President as reenrolled
- 04/02/2025 - House: Enacted, Chapter 644 (Effective 07/01/25)
- 04/02/2025 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644)
