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Bill

HB 57

County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Establishment

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Fraser-Hidalgo

Requires Maryland county school boards to establish local policies regulating student cell phone use during school days through stakeholder consultation.

Hearing 1/29 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 57

Legislative bill overview

HB 57 requires Maryland county boards of education to establish and implement policies governing student cellular phone use during the school day. The bill mandates that these policies be developed in consultation with students, parents, teachers, and administrators, and must address when and where phones can be used.

Why is this important

Student phone use in schools has become a widespread concern affecting classroom focus, mental health, and academic performance. This bill shifts decision-making authority to local school boards rather than imposing a statewide mandate, allowing communities to tailor policies to their specific needs while ensuring some level of consistency across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Local control vs. standardization: Critics may argue that leaving policy decisions to individual boards creates inconsistent rules across Maryland, while supporters contend this respects local autonomy and community preferences
  • Enforcement challenges: Schools may struggle with implementation and discipline consistency, raising questions about how violations will be addressed and whether consequences are age-appropriate
  • Educational access: Depending on policy strictness, legitimate uses of phones (emergency communication, accessibility tools for students with disabilities, digital learning resources) could be unnecessarily restricted

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

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