Estimated Time to Read: 5 minutes
Across the country, a growing movement is seeking to restrict or outright ban student cell phone use in public schools. From red to blue states, lawmakers, educators, and parents alike are increasingly concerned that smartphones and other personal devices are undermining student focus, disrupting classrooms, and contributing to a host of behavioral and mental health challenges. The debate has officially reached Texas, where lawmakers are considering several bills that could reshape how—and whether—students are allowed to use personal devices during the school day.
The National Trend Toward School Cell Phone Bans
National attention on school-based cell phone restrictions has surged in recent years. A growing number of states—including Florida, Utah, and Indiana—have adopted or proposed legislation to prohibit student phone use during instructional time. Supporters argue that these bans help restore classroom order, reduce social anxiety and cyberbullying, and encourage deeper student engagement.
Opponents, however, caution against government overreach. They argue that teaching responsible technology use is more beneficial than enforcing one-size-fits-all bans that may ignore local context and parental preferences.
Texas Education Legislation: SB 2365, HB 1481, and HB 515
In Texas, three bills filed during the ongoing 89th Legislative Session reflect the state’s entry into this national conversation. The most prominent is Senate Bill 2365 (SB 2365), authored by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe), which is expected to be considered by the full Senate imminently. A similar measure in the House—House Bill 1481 (HB 1481), carried by State Rep. Caroline Fairly (R–Amarillo) and backed by a bipartisan coalition of 85 authors—has gained significant traction. A third bill, HB 515, authored by State Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R–Lakeway), proposes an even stricter framework but has not yet received a hearing in the House Public Education Committee.
SB 2365 would require all public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting the use of personal wireless communication devices during instructional time. Covered devices include smartphones, tablets, and non-school-issued laptops. The committee substitute version of the bill added key exemptions for students with disabilities, medical needs, or legal safety accommodations—changes that helped soften the policy and remove an earlier mandate requiring physical device storage in every classroom.
HB 1481 similarly mandates school policies prohibiting personal device use on campus during the school day but offers greater local control over enforcement. Districts could opt for a full prohibition, designate on-campus storage solutions, or outline procedures for confiscation. Like SB 2365, it includes accommodations for students with disabilities or documented health needs
HB 1481 also directs the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to publish model policy language for school districts to use, promoting consistency while preserving local flexibility. Given its broad bipartisan support, HB 1481 may ultimately become the legislative vehicle of choice.
HB 515, by contrast, proposes a much stricter model. It would require students to lock away their phones in district-provided secure containers at the start of each school day and includes a data reporting mandate for TEA to evaluate the policy’s impact on student behavior, mental health, and disciplinary outcomes. Despite its bold design, the bill has yet to receive a committee hearing.
The Case Against the Mandates
Supporters of these bills argue they are necessary to eliminate distractions and improve learning environments. However, at Texas Policy Research, we believe these proposals—including SB 2365—represent an overreach of state authority and undermine foundational liberty principles.
Even in its revised form, SB 2365 imposes a top-down state mandate on every district, removing discretion from local school boards and limiting the role of parents in making decisions about their children’s use of technology. A statewide ban may reduce short-term distractions, but it does so at the cost of parental rights and student development.
From a liberty-oriented perspective, the bill poses several issues:
- Individual Liberty: The bill restricts students from using their own devices—even with parental permission—regardless of age or maturity. This removes agency from both students and families.
- Personal Responsibility: Blanket bans eliminate opportunities for students to learn responsible technology use and digital discipline—skills essential for modern academic and professional success.
- Private Property Rights: Students are prohibited from using their privately owned devices in public schools, limiting their control over their own property.
- Parental Rights: Parents are sidelined in decisions about how their children engage with technology during the school day. The policy enforces obedience to the state, not the family, and weakens the parental role in shaping behavior and values.
What’s Next for Texas School Device Restrictions?
SB 2365 has cleared the Senate Education Committee with unanimous support and is expected to be debated by the full Senate soon. In the House, lawmakers will likely choose between advancing SB 2365, moving forward with HB 1481, or crafting a compromise. HB 515, meanwhile, appears stalled for now.
The broader question remains: Should the state dictate how schools manage student technology use, or should that authority remain with local communities and parents?
As the Legislature deliberates, it must consider not only short-term classroom benefits but also the long-term implications for liberty, responsibility, and the evolving relationship between families, schools, and the state.
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