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Bill

Bill

S 461

AFL

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Roger Nutt

Prohibits personal electronic devices and social media use by students during the school day to improve focus, learning, and emotional health.

Introduced and adopted
0
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Bill Summary · S 461

Summary — S.461 (Velis): "An Act to protect children's learning, focus, and emotional health during school hours"

Note on source material: the bill text provided addresses limits on personal electronic devices and social media in Massachusetts public schools. Some supplied metadata (a different bill title about PFAS, a list of federal senators as sponsors, and duplicate/contradictory referral notes) appears inconsistent with the Massachusetts bill text. This summary follows the text of S.461 as filed by Sen. John C. Velis.

Purpose

To prohibit student access to personal electronic communication devices and to restrict use of social media during the school day and at school‑sponsored activities, with the intent of supporting student learning, attention, and emotional health.

Key provisions

  • Amends Chapter 71 by inserting Section 100, which:
    • Defines terms including “personal electronic communication device(s)” (e.g., smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, gaming devices), “social media,” “school,” and “school‑related program.”
    • Requires each school board/governing body to adopt and implement a district policy that:
    • Mandates personal devices be turned off, securely locked away, and inaccessible to students from “first bell to last bell” and while under staff supervision during school‑related programs. (Examples of storage: locked pouches, phone lockers, sealed envelopes.)
    • Includes enforcement provisions to ensure strict compliance by students and employees.
    • Ensures students can contact a parent/caregiver during the day via a telephone provided by the district at a designated location.
    • Prohibits school districts, employees, and volunteers from:
    • Using social media to communicate directly or indirectly with students.
    • Allowing students access to social media or gaming apps during school hours or on school property under supervision.
    • Allowing student access to social media on school‑issued devices (such devices must block social media).
    • Using social media to communicate with students about extracurriculars (schools may still use social media for community or parent communication).
    • Exempts use necessary for schoolwork (shared documents, email, internet research, electronic assignment submission).
    • Requires districts to collect annual data measuring policy impacts on student behavior, mental health, disciplinary incidents, attendance, and academic performance.

Exemptions / Accommodations

  • Possession/use permitted when:
    • A licensed physician determines device use is medically necessary (e.g., diabetes monitoring).
    • Required in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan.

Who is affected

  • Public schools, charter schools, and vocational‑technical schools in Massachusetts (preK–12).
  • Students and their parents/guardians.
  • School districts, boards, administrators, teachers, and volunteers.
  • Potentially school device configuration/IT staff (must block social media) and districts responsible for data collection.

Implementation & timeline

  • The act takes effect upon enactment.
  • Districts must develop, adopt, implement, and make the policy available to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  • Districts must perform annual data collection on specified outcomes.

Potential impacts & considerations

  • Intended benefits: reduced in‑class distractions, improved focus and emotional health, reduced disciplinary incidents.
  • Administrative implications: drafting/enforcing policies, providing secure storage, configuring school devices, handling accommodations, and conducting annual data collection.
  • Equity and access concerns: ensuring students without home access or who use devices for after‑school coordination are accommodated; verifying accessible communication for parents.
  • Legal/operational considerations: enforcement consistency, privacy for medical uses, and potential pushback on student/parent rights or effective emergency communication.

Procedural status (from provided record)

  • Introduced in Senate 02/06/2025; read twice and referred to the Judiciary Committee; also referred to the Committee on Education. Hearing scheduled 06/17/2025 (per record). The bill text filed by Sen. John C. Velis. (Refer to official legislative records for current status and any amendments or related drafts, e.g., S.2549.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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