Summary — HB 6923: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SMART DEVICES IN SCHOOLS
Status and procedural history
- Bill number: HB 6923 (File No. 591)
- Introduced: February 13, 2025
- Referred to: Joint Committee on Education (2/13/2025)
- Public hearing: February 19, 2025
- Joint favorable report: March 21, 2025
- Filed with LCO: March 24, 2025
- Referred to OLR and OFA for review: April 1–7, 2025
- Reported out of LCO and favorably reported; tabled for House calendar (House Calendar No. 365, File No. 591) on April 8, 2025
Purpose and intent
- The bill’s title—“An Act Concerning the Use of Smart Devices in Schools”—and listed subjects (boards of education; cellular telephones; mobile electronic devices and paging devices; State Board of Education; students; schools) indicate the bill addresses policies and rules governing student and possibly staff use of smartphones and other mobile electronic devices in public schools. The intent is likely to regulate when, how, and by whom such devices may be used to support instruction, maintain safety, reduce classroom disruption, or protect student privacy.
Key provisions (text not provided; below are the elements typically included in bills of this type)
- Local board of education policy requirements: direct boards to adopt or update written policies on possession and use of smart devices during instructional time, transportation, school activities and extracurriculars.
- Permitted uses: carve-outs for instructional use when authorized by staff, for health or safety emergencies, or for students with individualized education plans (IEPs).
- Prohibitions and discipline: restrictions on personal use during class (e.g., texting, social media, gaming) and specified disciplinary responses for violations.
- Teacher/staff discretion: authority for teachers and administrators to require devices be silenced, stored, or confiscated during classes.
- State guidance and oversight: require the State Board of Education or the Department of Education to issue model policies, guidance, or reporting templates to boards of education.
- Exemptions and accommodations: procedures for students needing devices for medical reasons or accessibility.
- Implementation timeline: a deadline for boards to adopt policies (commonly 90–180 days after enactment).
- Reporting/fiscal impacts: possible requirement that districts report compliance and any fiscal implications to the Office of Fiscal Analysis (if included, OFA would estimate costs, e.g., for lockboxes or training).
Who would be affected
- Students in public schools (K–12) and their families.
- Local boards of education and superintendents required to adopt and implement policies.
- Teachers, administrators, and school staff who would enforce policies and may use devices for instruction.
- Potentially, the State Board of Education or Department of Education if charged with issuing model policies or guidance.
What to watch for in the bill text
- Exact definitions (what counts as a “smart device” or “mobile electronic device”).
- Specific limits (time/place) on use and any disciplinary framework.
- Required accommodations for students with disabilities.
- Whether the bill mandates statewide policy or leaves decisions to local boards.
- Any fiscal provisions (funding for storage solutions, training, or enforcement) and reporting requirements.
Notes and next steps
- The full bill text is not included here. For the definitive provisions and exact language, consult the bill text (File No. 591) from the Legislative Commissioners’ Office (LCO), the Office of Legislative Research, or the General Assembly’s official bill repository. The Office of Fiscal Analysis materials will clarify any budgetary impact.
