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HB 1276

Schools; extending prohibition on use of cell phones and personal electronic devices on certain campuses; effective date; emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chad Caldwell and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma districts must prohibit student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day starting 2025-26, with emergency exceptions and annual opt-out opt

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Bill Summary · HB 1276

HB 1276 (2026) – Oklahoma

Overview
- Purpose: Require Oklahoma school districts to adopt policies restricting student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices (PEDs) during the school day, with exceptions for emergencies. The bill also provides a path for districts to opt out and requires annual review of any alternative policies.
- Effective date: July 1, 2025
- Emergency clause: The bill declares an emergency, making it effective upon passage and approval.

Key Provisions
- Mandatory prohibition policy (primary requirement):
- By the start of the 2025-2026 school year, each school district must adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones and PEDs by students during the entire school day while on school grounds.
- The policy must define “cell phone” and “personal electronic device” and exclude school-issued or school-approved devices used for classroom instruction.
- “School day” is defined as from the start of instruction to the end of instruction.

  • Emergency and medical exceptions:

    • Policies must include provisions for emergency use, including medical issues documented by a licensed medical professional.
    • Other emergency-related exceptions may be included as part of the policy.

  • Districts may opt out (with annual review):

    • District boards may vote to adopt a policy that allows student use of cell phones or PEDs during the school day.
    • Any policy permitting use must be reviewed and approved by the district board on an annual basis.

  • Definitions:

    • Cell phone: A portable wireless phone designed to send/receive via cellular radiotelephone service.
    • Personal electronic device: Any personal device capable of connecting to a smartphone, internet, cellular/Wi-Fi networks, or other similar devices (examples include smartwatches, smart headphones, laptops, tablets, smart glasses). Devices issued or approved by the district and limited for classroom instruction are excluded from this definition.
    • School day: The entire day from the first bell to the final bell of classroom instruction.

  • Codification:

    • Creates a new section (Section 24-162) in Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes to codify the policy requirements.

Who is Affected
- Public K-12 school districts in Oklahoma and their boards of education.
- Students enrolled in those districts, who would be subject to the day-long prohibition unless an opt-out policy is adopted.
- Districts, administrators, and school staff responsible for implementing and enforcing the policy.
- Parents/ Guardians who may need to understand the policy and any emergency exception processes.

Procedural and Timeline Details
- Pre-implementation requirement: District boards must adopt the prohibition policy before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
- Optional alternative policy: Districts may approve a policy allowing use; annual board approval is required for any such policy.
- Effective date: July 1, 2025.
- Emergency clause: The bill includes an emergency declaration, allowing it to take full effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Notes
- The bill was amended by committee substitutes in both the Common Education and Education Oversight committees.
- It passed several readings and floor actions, with the emergency clause contributing to immediate effect upon enactment.

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

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