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Bill

H 225

EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to establish the Mobile Device Policy Fund.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

House Bill 225 establishes a fund to help Idaho schools limit mobile device use during school hours, aiming to improve student focus and academic performance.

Referred to Education
#education #funds #schoolsandschooldistricts #students #teachingandteachers
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Bill Summary · H 225

Summary of House Bill 225 (H 225)

Title

EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to establish the Mobile Device Policy Fund

Status

  • Introduced: February 12, 2025
  • Current Status: Referred to Education Committee

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 225 aims to address the negative impact of mobile device usage on student learning and mental health in Idaho schools. The bill seeks to establish the School Mobile Device Policy Fund, which will provide financial assistance to school districts and public charter schools for implementing policies that limit mobile device access during school hours.

Key Provisions

  1. Establishment of the School Mobile Device Policy Fund:

    • A fund will be created in the state treasury to support school districts in developing and implementing mobile device restriction policies.
    • The fund will provide grants of up to $1,500 to eligible districts to cover costs associated with these policies.

  2. Bell-to-Bell Mobile Device Policy:

    • The bill defines a "bell-to-bell mobile device policy" as a restriction on student access to mobile devices from the start to the end of the school day, with exceptions for educational or health-related needs.

  3. Eligibility Criteria for Grants:

    • School districts and public charter schools must adopt a bell-to-bell mobile device policy and demonstrate financial need to qualify for grants.

  4. Grant Application Process:

    • Schools must submit an application to the state board of education, detailing their proposed policy, necessary equipment or services, projected costs, and financial need.
    • The state board will prioritize applications based on financial need and the number of students benefiting from the policy.

  5. Data Collection and Reporting:

    • The state board of education will collect data on student outcomes (e.g., suspensions, ISAT scores, GPA) for three years before and after grant receipt to assess the effectiveness of the mobile device policies.
    • An annual report summarizing this data will be submitted to relevant legislative committees.

Impact

  • Target Audience: The bill primarily affects K-12 students in Idaho, school districts, and public charter schools.
  • Financial Implications: The initial one-time cost to the general fund is estimated to be under $285,000 due to existing mobile device restrictions in many districts.
  • Educational Outcomes: The legislation is designed to foster a distraction-free learning environment, potentially improving student engagement and academic performance.

Procedural Timeline

  • February 12, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to the Joint Rules Committee for printing.
  • February 13, 2025: Reported printed and referred to Appropriations.
  • February 20, 2025: Reported out of Committee and returned for re-referral to the Education Committee.

This bill represents a proactive approach to enhancing educational environments in Idaho by addressing the challenges posed by mobile device usage in schools.

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

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