HB2205 - Relating to a policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices by public school students during instructional time.

  89R2522 CMO-F     By: Bumgarner H.B. No. 2205       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic   devices by public school students during instructional time.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 38.0232 to read as follows:           Sec.   38.0232.     PROHIBITED USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES   DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. (a) In this section, "personal   electronic device" means a device other than a device issued to an   enrolled student by a school district or open-enrollment charter   school that is capable of connecting to a cellular network or the   Internet, including:                 (1)  a computer;                 (2)  a smartphone;                 (3)  a tablet; or                 (4)  a smart watch.           (b)     Notwithstanding Section 38.0231, the board of trustees   of a school district and the governing body of an open-enrollment   charter school shall adopt a policy prohibiting a student in the   district or school from using a personal electronic device during   instructional time.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.