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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic |
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devices by public school students during instructional time. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.0232 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0232. PROHIBITED USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES |
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DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. (a) In this section, "personal |
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electronic device" means a device other than a device issued to an |
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enrolled student by a school district or open-enrollment charter |
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school that is capable of connecting to a cellular network or the |
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Internet, including: |
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(1) a computer; |
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(2) a smartphone; |
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(3) a tablet; or |
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(4) a smart watch. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 38.0231, the board of trustees |
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of a school district and the governing body of an open-enrollment |
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charter school shall adopt a policy prohibiting a student in the |
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district or school from using a personal electronic device during |
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instructional time. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |