Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S461 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1482 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 461
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	John C. Velis
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 protect children's learning, focus, and emotional health during school hours.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and HampshireCarmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/31/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/11/2025Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk2/20/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/28/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex3/3/2025 1 of 4
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1482 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 461
18	18	By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 461) of John C. Velis, Carmine
19	19	Lawrence Gentile, James C. Arena-DeRosa, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General
20	20	Court for legislation to prohibit access to personal electronic devices and social media in public
21	21	schools. Education.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act to protect children's learning, focus, and emotional health during school hours.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
31	31	2section 99 the following section:-
32	32	3 Section 100. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
33	33	4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
34	34	5 “Gaming app” a software program that allows users to play games on their mobile
35	35	6devices, tablets, or computers.
36	36	7 “Parent” a parent or guardian of a student who is authorized to make education decisions
37	37	8for the student.
38	38	9 “Personal electronic communication device(s)” any electronic equipment capable of
39	39	10providing voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more parties or
40	40	11devices, or capable of connecting to a smartphone or other personal electronic device, the 2 of 4
41	41	12internet, or a cellular or Wi-Fi network, including but not limited to smartphones, cellular
42	42	13phones, bluetooth enabled devices, tablets, smartwatches or other wearables, and gaming
43	43	14devices. Personal electronic communication devices do not include school owned devices
44	44	15provided to the student in accordance with the limitations placed herein.
45	45	16 “School” any public school, charter school, or vocational-technical school in
46	46	17Massachusetts that provides full-time education programs for any grade from preK-12.
47	47	18 “School-related program” any school-sponsored or approved activity, event, or function
48	48	19on or off school premises where students are under the jurisdiction of the School District or
49	49	20during any period when school employees are supervising students on behalf of the School
50	50	21District.
51	51	22 “Social media” any public-facing website, online service, online application, mobile
52	52	23application, or gaming application, used primarily for the purpose of posting and viewing user-
53	53	24generated content. For the purposes of this section, social media does not include: (i) an online
54	54	25website, application, or mobile application where the exclusive function is e-mail or direct
55	55	26messaging shared only between the sender and intended recipients, without displaying or posting
56	56	27publicly or to other users not specifically identified as the recipients by the sender; (ii) an online
57	57	28website, application, or mobile application where the posting of comments or other interactive
58	58	29functionality is merely incidental to its predominant purpose; or, (iii) a school-sanctioned
59	59	30website, application, or service used for the purpose of publishing student journalism, or school-
60	60	31related news, events, and updates.
61	61	32 “Student” an individual currently enrolled or registered at a school as defined under
62	62	33subdivision (d) of this section. 3 of 4
63	63	34 (b) Each school board or governing body shall develop, adopt, and ensure
64	64	35implementation of and make available to the department of elementary and secondary education
65	65	36a policy:
66	66	37 (1) requiring all personal electronic devices be turned off, securely locked away, and
67	67	38inaccessible to students for the entire school day -- from “first bell to last bell” -- and while under
68	68	39the supervision of an employee of the school district for a school-related program;
69	69	40 (i) examples of storage devices include lockable pouches that students cannot unlock,
70	70	41locked phone lockers, pencil pouches, or manila envelopes stored in a secure location.
71	71	42 (2) includes enforcement provisions to ensure strict compliance with the policy by
72	72	43students and district employees; and
73	73	44 (3) provides that a student may contact their parent or caregiver during the school day if
74	74	45needed by using a telephone made available to the student in a manner and location designated
75	75	46by the district.
76	76	47 (c) Districts shall collect data annually to measure the impact of the policy on student
77	77	48behavior, mental health, disciplinary incidents, school attendance, and academic performance.
78	78	49 (d) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a student shall not be prohibited from possessing or
79	79	50using a personal electronic device under any of the following circumstances:
80	80	51 (1) when a licensed physician determines that the possession or use of a personal
81	81	52electronic device is necessary for the health or well-being of the individual student (such as
82	82	53diabetes monitoring); or 4 of 4
83	83	54 (2) when the possession or use of a personal electronic device is required in a student’s
84	84	55Individual Education Plan (IEP), or Section 504 Accommodations Plan.
85	85	56 (f) To help students avoid coming to rely on social media, school districts, school
86	86	57employees, and volunteers are prohibited from:
87	87	58 (1) utilizing social media for communication with students directly or indirectly;
88	88	59 (2) allowing students to access social media or gaming apps during school day hours or
89	89	60while on school property under the supervision of a school employee;
90	90	61 (3) allowing students to access social media on school-issued electronic devices. School-
91	91	62issued devices shall be set up to block social media sites; and
92	92	63 (4) utilizing social media to communicate with students about out-of-school sports,
93	93	64extracurricular clubs, and any other school-sponsored activities. This does not prevent a school
94	94	65from using social media for community communication and school-to-parent/guardian
95	95	66communication.
96	96	67 This prohibition does not apply to work that requires shared documents, emails, or the
97	97	68use of the Internet for the completion or enhancement of homework assignments, and the
98	98	69electronic submission of assignments.
99	99	70 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon enactment.