On June 20, 2025, the 89th Legislative Session in Texas, passed House Bill 1481, a new law set to take effect immediately. The bill mandates that school districts across the state implement strict cell phone bans during school hours.
“The goal of the law is for each district to develop its own policies regarding the consequences for violating the ban. It’s crucial that students, teachers, and parents understand the expectations,” said Kevin Brown, Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators in an article on the Texas Tribune.
According to the new legislation, every school district must have a cell phone policy in place by no later than Sept. 18, 2025. The Texas Education Agency outlines that the policy must, “prohibit student use of personal communication devices—as defined in the Texas Education Code (TEC), §37.082(d), including cell phones, tablets, smartwatches and other devices capable of telecommunication or digital communication—on school property during the school day,”
This means that schools cannot simply restrict phone use during class time; they are required to enforce a complete ban on all personal communication devices during school hours.
The law is designed to reduce distractions, mitigate cyberbullying and address the negative impact of phones on students’ mental health.
According to the Austin American-Statesman. However, some concerns about safety have been raised by opponents, but these concerns have largely been dismissed by education leaders.
“I don’t believe school safety will be negatively impacted by students not having access to their cell phones,” said Brian Woods, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators. “In my experience, nearly every classroom is equipped with a phone, and schools have alternative methods for students to contact office personnel if needed.”
Although Idaho did pass a law in 2024 that restricted the use of phones in classrooms, there is currently no plan to restrict phone use further. But if Texas’s phone ban proves to be successful, it could be used as an example to further increase restrictions in Idaho.
The full impact of the law remains to be seen, and whether it proves beneficial for students’ overall well-being will only become clear with time.
