[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2700 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2700
To require State educational agencies to implement policies prohibiting
the use or possession of personal mobile phones by students in public
school classrooms during school hours, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2025
Mr. Vindman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require State educational agencies to implement policies prohibiting
the use or possession of personal mobile phones by students in public
school classrooms during school hours, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Utilize No Phones in Learning to
Unleash Growth in Grades and Educate Distraction-free Act of 2025'' or
the ``UNPLUGGED Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Public education is critical to the economic vitality,
national security, and democratic governance of the United
States.
(2) Disruptions to the educational process directly affect
national productivity, civic engagement, and workforce
development.
(3) The excessive use of mobile phones during school hours
significantly impairs the ability of schools to maintain
effective educational environments.
(4) A growing body of peer-reviewed literature has
documented the detrimental effects of mobile phone usage in
classrooms on attention, academic performance, and mental
health.
(5) Studies published in journals such as Computers in
Human Behavior, Educational Psychology, and the Journal of
Adolescent Health have shown that the presence of mobile phones
in academic settings correlates with reduced focus, lower test
scores, increased academic procrastination, and higher levels
of anxiety and depression among students.
(6) Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in both his
academic work and public commentary, has--
(A) extensively documented the relationship between
the rise of smartphone use among adolescents and the
decline in mental health indicators;
(B) produced research pointing to a sharp increase
in rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm
beginning around 2012-2013, coinciding with widespread
smartphone and social media adoption among teenagers;
and
(C) argued that overexposure to digital devices and
online platforms undermines the development of
resilience, emotional regulation, and in-person social
connection.
(7) Limiting in-school phone access is essential to
reversing harmful psychological and academic trends in American
youth.
(8) The presence of mobile phones in educational settings
contributes to increased rates of bullying, cyber harassment,
academic dishonesty, and classroom distractions, thereby
undermining the core mission of public education.
(9) These issues are not confined to a single state or
region and are national in scope, with similar patterns of
disruption and diminished student outcomes reported across
state lines.
(10) The cumulative effect of diminished educational
achievement has a substantial impact on the national economy
and workforce preparedness.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that each State
educational agency, in coordination with each local educational agency
served by the State educational agency and in consultation with
educators, parents, and students, should establish and enforce a policy
that--
(1) enables parents to notify students through school
officials about forgotten items, changes in pick-up times, and
other common issues; and
(2) enables schools to communicate with parents regarding
time-sensitive items.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF STUDENT PHONE POSSESSION IN SCHOOLS.
(a) In General.--Not later than the first school year beginning
after the date of enactment of this Act, each State educational agency,
in coordination with each local educational agency served by the State
educational agency and in consultation with educators, parents, and
students, shall establish and enforce a policy that prohibits student
possession or use of personal electronic devices, including personal
mobile phones, in public schools during school hours.
(b) Secure Storage Methods.--A personal electronic device policy
established pursuant to subsection (a) may include a requirement that
public schools use secure storage methods, including--
(1) lockable lockers;
(2) secure lock boxes;
(3) magnetic pouches or other signal-blocking storage
devices; or
(4) other technologies or materials deemed appropriate by
the State educational agency.
(c) Exceptions.--A personal electronic device policy established
pursuant to subsection (a) may permit exceptions for--
(1) students with medical or health conditions that require
the use of a mobile phone or other personal electronic device
as part of a treatment or monitoring plan, as certified by a
licensed healthcare provider;
(2) students with disabilities or special needs for whom
access to a personal mobile phone or other personal electronic
device is--
(A) documented as necessary in an individualized
education program; or
(B) included as part of services or accommodations
provided to the student pursuant to section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) (commonly
referred to as a ``Section 504 plan'');
(3) on an individualized basis for students--
(A) who are English learners;
(B) who have a demonstrated need for a personal
electronic device to facilitate instruction; and
(C) acquire documentation in support of
subparagraph (A) and (B) in accordance with procedures
established by the State educational agency; and
(4) additional situations as States and local education
authorities deem necessary and appropriate.
(d) Minimum Requirement.--The requirements in this Act shall
constitute a minimum standard. Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to preempt or prevent a State, State educational agency, or local
educational agency from enacting more restrictive policies regarding
student possession or use of mobile phones or other personal electronic
devices during school hours, on school grounds, or during school
activities.
(e) Grant Program Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education shall establish
a grant program to provide funding to State educational
agencies to purchase, implement, or maintain secure storage
methods, and related training or infrastructure, in accordance
with a personal electronic device policy established by such
State educational agency pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, a State educational agency shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``English
learner'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'',
``State'', and ``State educational agency'' have the meanings
given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Individualized education program.--The term
``individualized education program'' has the meaning given such
term in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).
(3) Mobile phone.--The term ``mobile phone'' means any
handheld communication device with cellular, Wi-Fi, or
Bluetooth capability, including smartphones and similar
devices.
(4) Personal electronic device.--The term ``personal
electronic device''--
(A) includes mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets,
and other handheld or wearable devices with
communication, internet, or multimedia capabilities;
and
(B) does not include laptops or tablets that are
authorized by the school and used solely for
instructional purposes under teacher supervision so
long as such laptops or tablets are restricted from
accessing social media platforms, personal email,
messaging or texting services, and other non-academic
applications during instructional time.
(5) Public school.--The term ``public school'' means--
(A) a public elementary school; and
(B) a public secondary school.
(6) School hours.--The term ``school hours'' means the
period from the start of the instructional day until the end of
the instructional day, as defined by the State educational
agency.
<all>