Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H549 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1437 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 549
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	David F. DeCoste
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to regulate the use of mobile communication devices in educational institutions.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/14/2025Geoffrey Gordon1/14/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1437 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 549
18	18	By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 549) of
19	19	David F. DeCoste and Geoffrey Gordon for legislation to regulate the use of mobile
20	20	communication devices in educational institutions. Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to regulate the use of mobile communication devices in educational institutions.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
30	30	2is hereby amended by inserting after section 37 the following new section:-
31	31	3 Section 38.
32	32	4 (a) For the purposes of this section, “Mobile communication device” shall be defined as
33	33	5to any portable electronic device that enables voice communication, text messaging, internet
34	34	6access, and application usage, including but not limited to smartphones and tablets.
35	35	7 (b) The department shall establish standards for school districts to prohibit the usage of
36	36	8mobile communication devices during instructional hours within all public elementary,
37	37	9secondary, and vocational schools. These standards shall require students store mobile
38	38	10communication devices in designated areas or lockers during school hours to minimize
39	39	11distractions and enhance focus during educational activities. The standards shall not prohibit
40	40	12authorized personnel from using mobile communication devices for official school purposes or 2 of 2
41	41	13students with documented medical needs or other exceptional circumstances from using mobile
42	42	14communication devices as approved by school administration. The standards shall require ensure
43	43	15schools establish clear communication to students and parents regarding the regulations and any
44	44	16consequences for violations of the school’s cell phone policy.
45	45	17 (c) The standards may allow schools to adopt exceptions for cellular phones which do not
46	46	18provide internet access or application usage to its users, so that students may communicate with
47	47	19parents and guardians while minimizing noise and distractions to the learning environment.
48	48	20 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect at the beginning of the next academic year
49	49	21following its passage.