Bill
HB 3488
Requires Illinois school boards to ban student wireless device use during instructional time, with specific exceptions and non-punitive enforcement.
Status snapshot
- Filed: Feb 7, 2025 (first reading Feb 18, 2025) by Rep. Michelle Mussman. Co‑sponsors include Reps. Margaret Croke, Fred Crespo, Tracy Katz Muhl, Janet Yang Rohr, and Jennifer Gong‑Gershowitz.
- Passed the House: 05/08/2025 (engrossed).
- Received in the Senate: read 1st time 05/12/2025 and referred to the Criminal Justice Committee.
- Amends the Illinois School Code by adding Sections 10‑20.88, 27A‑5‑3, and 34‑18.88.
Purpose
- Require every school board to adopt and implement a district wireless communication device policy to limit student use of personal wireless devices during instructional time while ensuring access where necessary for safety, health, special education, or instruction.
Key provisions
- Definition: "Wireless communication device" broadly includes cellular phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, wearables (smart watches, smart glasses), and similar portable devices capable of voice, messaging, or data communication.
- Policy adoption deadline: On or before the 2026–2027 school year, each school board must adopt and implement a wireless device policy.
- Core requirement: The policy must prohibit students from using wireless devices during instructional time, with specified exceptions.
- Required guidance: Policies must include guidance for secure and accessible storage of devices during instructional time.
- Enumerated exceptions (circumstances in which device use may not be prohibited):
1. Teacher or instructor authorization for educational purposes.
2. An emergency or response to an imminent health/safety threat.
3. When a licensed physician determines possession/use is necessary for the student’s health/well‑being.
4. To fulfill an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan.
5. When necessary for English learners to access learning materials.
- Enforcement limits: Districts may not enforce the policy through fees or fines, nor by deploying a School Resource Officer (SRO) or local law enforcement officer.
- Review requirement: Each school board must review the effectiveness of its wireless device policy at least once every 3 years.
Who is affected
- Public school districts and school boards across Illinois (policy-making and implementation).
- Students (restrictions and exceptions), especially those with health needs, IEP/504 plans, or who are English learners.
- School staff responsible for policy enforcement and storage solutions.
- School resource officers and local law enforcement (restrictions on enforcement role).
Implementation and timeline
- Districts must have policies adopted and in effect by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
- Policies must include secure and accessible storage approaches and be reviewed triennially.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Standardizes a statewide requirement that school boards regulate in‑class device use while protecting access for safety, health, special education, and English learner needs.
- Prohibits punitive revenue measures (fees/fines) and limits criminal justice involvement in enforcement, shifting discipline to school administrative processes.
- Implementation may require investment in storage solutions, staff training, and developing clear local definitions (e.g., what constitutes "instructional time") and procedures for authorized exceptions.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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