Iowa House Bill HF273

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/10/25
• Refer: 2/10/25

Caption

A bill for an act relating to student access to personal electronic devices in schools.

Impact

The bill will create a standardized approach across Iowa schools concerning the use of personal electronic devices, potentially affecting how individual schools manage technology in classrooms. It will require schools to clearly outline their policies, providing avenues for student exceptions in emergencies or healthcare management. This could lead to more uniform student experiences across different school districts, but may also raise concerns regarding the adaptability of policies to unique local needs.

Summary

House File 273 (HF273) seeks to regulate the use of personal electronic devices by students within educational settings. The bill mandates that by December 31, 2025, school districts and accredited nonpublic schools must adopt a policy prohibiting the use of personal devices such as cellular phones during instructional time, while allowing for certain exceptions. This legislative measure is aimed at ensuring that classroom environments are conducive to learning, minimizing distractions that electronic devices might cause.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HF273 include balancing the need for focused learning environments against the rights of students to access their personal devices. Critics may argue that the bill underestimates the educational benefits that personal devices can provide, particularly for students who may rely on technology due to learning differences as recognized in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Supporters, however, believe it is a necessary step towards creating more structured and disciplined classroom settings.