Relates to certain notices and guidelines regarding mental health services and resources available to employees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Samra Brouk and 5 co-sponsors

Requires Massachusetts public schools to ban student cell phone use during instructional time unless a teacher directs otherwise.

REFERRED TO LABOR

Purpose / Intent

The bill would require Massachusetts public school discipline/policy statements to expressly prohibit students from using cell phones during instructional time, except when a teacher expressly directs use. The stated aim is to limit in-class smartphone use to support instruction and reduce classroom distractions.

Key provision (text)

Amends Section 37H of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting after the word “department” the following sentence:

“Said policies shall prohibit the use of cell phones by students during instructional time, except when expressly directed by a teacher.”

This is the sole substantive change in the bill text as filed.

Who or what would be affected

Public school districts and school administrators (who set or revise school handbooks and discipline policies).

K–12 students in schools governed by Chapter 71 (public elementary and secondary schools).

Teachers and staff (who would have authority to permit in-class phone use when appropriate).

Potentially parents and guardians (notification and enforcement changes in school policies).

The bill does not explicitly mention private schools, colleges, or early childhood programs. It also does not explicitly provide exceptions for medical needs, disability accommodations, or emergency use beyond the teacher-directed exception.

Implementation and enforcement

School districts would need to adopt or revise written policies/handbook language to reflect the prohibition and the teacher-directed exception.

Enforcement mechanisms, disciplinary consequences, and operational details (e.g., storage during class, sanctions for noncompliance) are not specified by the bill and would be handled at the district/school level under existing authority.

The bill does not allocate funding or set statewide enforcement procedures.

Legislative status and timeline (as reported)

Introduced: February 4, 2025.

Actions recorded include referrals to committees (Education; Labor), a hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025, and recorded Senate passage on March 12, 2025 with delivery to the House/Assembly and referral there to the Committee on Labor.

Related entries show the bill accompanied a new draft (S.2549) and lists related/prior-session bills (e.g., S.1860, S.7577). Consult the official legislative website for the current bill text and latest status.

Notes / Observations

The available metadata contains inconsistencies: the initial “Bill Information” title references mental health notices and the sponsor list includes names of U.S. Senators, which do not align with the Massachusetts Senate bill text (which addresses cell phone use in classrooms and lists Massachusetts state senators as petitioners). Users should rely on the official Massachusetts legislative docket for authoritative sponsor and status information.

The bill is narrowly focused and leaves classroom-level procedures, disciplinary measures, and accommodation processes to districts; absence of explicit medical/disability exceptions could require districts to address those issues in policy language.

Bill