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Bill

HB 1179

Montgomery County - Board of Education - Student Cellular Phone Policy MC 13-25

2025 Regular Session

HB 1179 mandates Montgomery County schools establish cellular phone restrictions during instruction, but was withdrawn before final consideration.

Withdrawn by Sponsor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1179

Legislative bill overview

HB 1179 would establish a mandatory policy for Montgomery County's Board of Education restricting student cellular phone use during school hours. The bill requires the board to implement regulations governing when and where students can use phones, likely during instructional time and in classrooms.

Why is this important

Student phone policies affect classroom focus, academic performance, and school safety. This legislation would create a formal, countywide standard rather than leaving phone policies to individual schools, potentially impacting thousands of students and addressing growing concerns about digital distraction in educational settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Parental communication concerns: Restrictions may limit parents' ability to reach children in emergencies, though schools typically allow exceptions for urgent situations
  • Enforcement challenges: Implementing and fairly enforcing phone restrictions across diverse school environments requires significant staff time and resources
  • Student privacy and autonomy: Debate over whether schools should regulate personal device use and the developmental appropriateness of restricting teen phone access during the school day
  • Equity implications: Students may have different needs for phone access (medical alerts, assistive technology, socioeconomic factors affecting after-school logistics)

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

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