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Bill

S 335

An Act promoting safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nick Collins and 3 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill establishing school technology restrictions to reduce student distraction and promote safer digital habits during education.

Accompanied a new draft, see S2549
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Bill Summary · S 335

Legislative bill overview

S 335 aims to establish guidelines and restrictions on technology use in Massachusetts schools to reduce student distractions and promote safer digital habits during educational time. The bill, which has moved through committee referral and is scheduled for hearings, addresses concerns about how personal devices affect classroom learning and student well-being.

Why is this important

Technology overuse among youth is linked to documented issues including reduced academic performance, sleep disruption, and mental health concerns. Schools nationwide are grappling with how to balance educational technology benefits against distraction risks, making this legislation part of a broader policy conversation about classroom management in the digital age.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Schools may lack resources or technical infrastructure to enforce device restrictions consistently across all classrooms and grade levels
  • Equity concerns: Restrictions could disproportionately affect students with disabilities who rely on assistive technology or students from lower-income backgrounds with limited home internet access
  • Parental authority vs. state regulation: Disagreement over whether technology policies should be set by schools/parents individually or mandated uniformly by state legislation
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's language around "safe technology use" and "distraction-free" may be too vague, leaving schools uncertain about compliance standards
  • Efficacy questions: Unclear whether legislative mandates effectively change student behavior compared to school-level policies and digital literacy education

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

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