House Bill 1481 says Texas schools must enforce a new law banning student cellphone use during school hours.
TEXAS, USA — Texas school districts will soon be required to crack down on student cellphone use, following a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday.
House Bill 1481 mandates that all public and open-enrollment charter schools prohibit students from using personal electronic devices—including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches—during the school day. The law marks a significant shift from previous policy, where such restrictions were left up to individual districts.
Thousands of schools across the state must now adopt formal policies within 90 days. Districts will have the option to either ban devices entirely from school property or require students to store them in a designated manner during school hours.
The bill’s author, Rep. James Talarico, a former teacher, said the legislation is aimed at helping educators reclaim instructional time.
“I spent a lot of my time policing cell phones instead of teaching,” Talarico said. “It’s a waste of time for our educators, who already have very limited time in the school day.”
Several Central Texas districts—Killeen ISD, Temple ISD and Belton ISD—had already implemented cellphone restrictions before the law was passed. These local measures range from locker storage policies to phone pouches used during class.
Some parents, however, feel the ban removes an important line of communication.
“It should definitely be up to the parents and children,” Local parent Madelin Jackson said. “Just with everything going on now, I think it should be an option to check in and help families feel safe.”
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than half of teachers believe cellphone use negatively impacts student achievement.
An anonymous Central Texas teacher said that while cellphones can be a distraction, the responsibility should begin at home.
“There will always be students who test boundaries, but if you build a respectful relationship in the classroom, it doesn’t have to be a problem,” the teacher said.
Thousands of schools across the state must now adopt formal policies within 90 days. Districts will have the option to either ban devices entirely from school property or require students to store them in a designated manner during school hours.
“We as legislators are trying to step in and protect our students from these harmful products,” Talarico added.
With the new law in effect, more schools across Texas are expected to follow suit in hopes of improving focus, safety and academic performance.