This bill mandates that school districts develop and adopt policies regarding the use of student cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices in schools. Specifically, it requires that these policies restrict the use of personal cell phones during class instruction, with exceptions allowed for students with medical needs, disabilities, or language proficiency requirements as determined by the superintendent or their designee. The new legal language added to RSA 189:1-a includes a provision that ensures students with medical devices or those identified in individualized education programs (IEPs) are not prohibited from using their devices to support their learning.

Additionally, the bill includes a fiscal note indicating that it does not provide funding or authorize new positions, but it does allocate $250,000 from the general fund in FY 2026 to reimburse school districts for the implementation of these policies. While the exact costs for implementation are indeterminate, the Department of Education anticipates needing a temporary program specialist to manage reimbursement requests, although the bill does not authorize this new position. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 189:1-a
As Amended by the House: 189:1-a
HB781 text: 189:1-a