House Bill 932 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, to establish regulations regarding the use of wireless communication devices in schools. The bill defines "wireless communication device" to include cellular phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices. It mandates that each local board of education and public charter school governing body adopt a policy that generally prohibits students from using these devices during instructional time, with specific exceptions. These exceptions allow for device use for educational purposes as authorized by a teacher, in emergencies, or if included in a student's individualized education program or active 504 plan. Additionally, the policy must ensure that parents or guardians can be contacted in emergencies despite restrictions on device use.

The bill also modifies existing law by deleting a subsection and substituting it with new language that allows teachers to confiscate a student's wireless communication device if the student does not comply with the established policy. This new provision reinforces the authority of educators in managing device use in the classroom. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to the 2025-2026 school year and subsequent years.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-4002