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SB 29

Education - Phone-Free Schools Pilot Program - Establishment

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Justin Ready and 1 co-sponsor

Maryland pilot program restricts student cell phones during school days to measure impacts on academic performance, behavior, and mental health outcomes.

Hearing 1/29 at 2:30 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 29

Legislative bill overview

SB 29 establishes a pilot program in Maryland schools to restrict student cell phone use during the school day. The bill would create a framework for participating schools to implement phone-free policies and measure their effects on student academic performance, mental health, and classroom behavior.

Why is this important

Growing evidence suggests excessive phone use may impact student focus and mental health, yet schools lack consistent guidance on implementation. This pilot allows data collection on whether restrictions genuinely improve outcomes before any statewide mandate, affecting educational policy across Maryland and potentially informing other states' approaches.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Schools must develop enforcement mechanisms and storage solutions, raising questions about cost, liability for lost/damaged phones, and administrative resources needed
  • Equity concerns: Students from low-income families may lack reliable alternatives for emergency contact, and phone restrictions could disproportionately affect students who rely on devices for learning accommodations or medical alerts
  • Personal freedom vs. institutional control: Debate over whether schools should restrict personal devices and whether such policies infringe on student/family autonomy versus protecting educational environments

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

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