Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF273

Introduced
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.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2547

A bill for an act relating to education, including by requiring school engagement meetings and attendance cooperation proceedings when children are absent from school, requiring school districts to restrict student use of cellular phones and smartphones, modifying provisions related to open enrollment of truant students, and modifying penalties. (Formerly HF 2254.)

IA SSB1145

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.(See SF 496.)

IA HSB222

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF2496

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.

IA HSB219

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(See HF 597.)

IA SF496

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1145.) Effective date: 05/26/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA HF5

A bill for an act relating to education, including requiring the boards of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools to publish certain specified information, modifying provisions related to required social studies instruction, and providing civil penalties.

IA SSB3068

A bill for an act relating to the administration of the statewide summative assessment of student progress to students of online schools by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.

IA HSB650

A bill for an act relating to elementary literacy by modifying teacher preparation program requirements and teacher licensing requirements, requiring personalized reading plans for certain students, and providing parent and guardian discretion for their students to be retained at grade level.(See HF 2618.)

IA SSB3155

A bill for an act relating to elementary literacy by modifying teacher preparation program requirements and teacher licensing requirements, requiring personalized reading plans for certain students, and providing parent and guardian discretion for their students to be retained at grade level.

Similar Bills

IA HF603

A bill for an act relating to school safety, including grant programs, attendance center standards, and emergency planning, and making appropriations.

IA HSB106

A bill for an act relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 782.)

IA SSB1065

A bill for an act relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 370.)

IA SF370

A bill for an act relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 1065.)

IA HF782

A bill for an act relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours and school safety plans, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 106.) Effective date: 04/30/2025.

IA SF2367

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 3156.)

IA HF2542

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 672.)

IA HSB672

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(See HF 2542.)