House Bill 1481 was passed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session and signed into law by Governor Abbott as part of a statewide initiative to promote focused learning environments, reduce distractions in classrooms, and limit cyberbullying and social media misuse during school hours.

The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year and requires public school districts across the state to prohibit students from using personal electronic communication devices that can send or receive data on school property during the school day, including during passing periods and at lunch.

This includes, but is not limited to: 

• Cell Phones
• Smart Watches
• Fitness Trackers with messaging capabilities
• Bluetooth Earbuds or Headphones
• Tablets and Personal Computers
• Gaming Devices
• Two-Way Radios
• Pagers
• Any other device capable of telecommunication or digital communication 

Students will use district-issued devices for instructional purposes.

Exceptions are provided for students with documented medical needs, special education accommodations, or other health and safety requirements as outlined by law. 

We encourage parents and guardians to begin discussing this upcoming change with their student(s) to help families be prepared when school starts in August.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to ensure a smooth transition and compliance with this new state law.