25 LC 49 2216
House Bill 340
By: Representatives Hilton of the 48
th
, Jones of the 47
th
, Gaines of the 120
th
, Rice of the 139
th
,
Barrett of the 24
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
elementary and secondary education, so as to enact the "Distraction-Free Education Act"; to2
require local school systems and public schools to enact policies and procedures for use of3
personal electronic devices at school and school sponsored events by students in kindergarten4
through eighth grade; to provide for permissible student use of personal electronic devices;5
to authorize the Department of Education to provide guidance and technical assistance; to6
prohibit certain waivers; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal7
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
SECTION 1.10
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Distraction-Free Education Act."11
SECTION 2.12
Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and13
secondary education, is amended in Part 15 of Article 6, relating to miscellaneous provisions14
under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by adding a new Code section to read as follows:15
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"20-2-324.8.16
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:17
(1) 'Access' means viewing, holding, wearing, or otherwise using a device for the18
purpose of communication, internet access, gaming, recording, listening to music, or any19
other function commonly associated with personal electronic devices.20
(2) 'Bell-to-bell' means the period beginning with the first bell signaling the start of21
instructional time and ending with the final bell signaling the conclusion of the school22
day and shall include all scheduled instructional time, breaks, transitions, assemblies, and23
other school related activities occurring between the start and end of the school day.24
(3) 'Distraction-free education' means a learning environment where access to personal25
electronic devices is restricted to minimize distractions, improve academic outcomes, and26
increase meaningful interactions and focused learning experiences.27
(4) 'Personal electronic device' means any portable electronic device capable of28
transmitting, receiving, or accessing communications, data, or media. Such term29
includes, but is not limited to, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, headphones,30
and other devices with functionalities such as wireless communication, internet access,31
messaging, video recording, gaming, social media access, or data transmission.32
(b) Beginning no later than January 1, 2026, no public school student in kindergarten33
through grade eight shall be permitted to access personal electronic devices during the34
school day, except as otherwise provided in this Code section or required by law.35
(c) By August 1, 2025, each local school system and public school shall adopt policies and36
procedures that, at a minimum:37
(1) Prohibit bell-to-bell access to personal electronic devices by students in kindergarten38
through grade eight, subject to exceptions provided for by law;39
(2) Establish appropriate methods for storing students' personal electronic devices,40
including, but not limited to, a student's locker, a locked pouch, or a designated place in41
the classroom;42
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(3) Establish clear procedures for off-site events or activities, including all school43
sponsored events and field trips, daily transportation, athletic and extracurricular events,44
and other instructional opportunities that do not occur on school grounds;45
(4) Establish clear communication protocols that:46
(A) Facilitate all emergency communication through school emergency communication47
management systems and coordinated by school personnel;48
(B) Require parents or guardians who need to communicate with their student during49
the school day to contact the school directly; and50
(C) Communicate rules for school personnel and sponsors of all school sponsored51
events and field trips, daily transportation, athletic and extracurricular events, and other52
instructional opportunities that do not occur on school grounds; and53
(5) Provide that any student found in violation of such policies and procedures during54
the school day shall be subject to progressive consequences in accordance with the local55
school system's or public school's student code of conduct, including, but not limited to,56
verbal warnings, confiscation of personal electronic devices, parental notification, and57
other actions as deemed appropriate.58
(d) A student whose Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or59
medical plan explicitly mandates the use of a personal electronic device for medical or60
educational purposes shall be permitted to access the device as necessary to fulfill the61
requirements of the respective program or plan.62
(e)(1) Each local school system and public school shall:63
(A) Implement appropriate monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure64
compliance with policies and procedures established pursuant to this Code section,65
which may include, but need not be limited to, assigning designated school personnel66
to oversee implementation and adherence to such policies and procedures, conducting67
periodic audits of personal electronic device storage, and regularly reviewing68
enforcement practices;69
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(B) Ensure that parents, guardians, and students are informed of such policies and70
procedures through student and family handbooks, student codes of conduct, school71
public websites, and other common communication channels; and72
(C) Regularly review the effectiveness of such policies and procedures and adjust as73
necessary to ensure its continued alignment with educational goals and student74
well-being.75
(2) Each local school system and public school is encouraged to host student and parent76
engagement activities designed to promote distraction-free education through personal77
electronic device-free, independent play and learning, including, but not limited to,78
family workshops, question and answer sessions, town halls, mindfulness or enrichment79
sessions, screen-free challenges, and participation in initiatives that encourage students80
to engage in meaningful, personal electronic device-free play and activities.81
(f) The Department of Education shall provide local school systems and public schools82
with guidance and technical support for the effective implementation and enforcement of83
the provisions of this Code section.84
(g) This Code section shall not be subject to waiver pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for85
a strategic waivers school system, Code Section 20-2-2063.2 or 20-2-2065 for a charter86
system, Code Section 20-2-2065 for a charter school, Code Section 20-2-2096.3 for a87
completion special school, or Code Section 20-2-244."88
SECTION 3.89
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.90
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