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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 1276 By: Caldwell (Chad), Lowe
(Dick), and Moore of the
House
and
Seifried of the Senate
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
An Act relating to schools; requiring district boards
of education to adopt a policy prohibiting student
cell phone and personal electronic device use under
certain circumstances; requiring exceptions for
emergencies; allowing board approval to opt out of
prohibition; requiring annual approval of alternative
policies; defining terms; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE ST ATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24 -162 of Title 70, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Before the start of the 2025 -2026 school year, each school
district board of education shall adopt a policy to prohibit the use
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of cell phones and personal electronic devices by students enrolled
in the district during the entirety of the school day and while
present on school grounds.
B. District policies described in subsection A of this section
shall incorporate provisions for emergency use including, but not
limited to, use to support medical issues documented by a licensed
medical professional.
C. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a school
district board of education may vote to adopt a policy allowing
student cell phone or personal electronic device usage during the
school day. Any such policy shall be reviewed and approved by the
district board on an annual basis.
D. For purposes of this section:
1. "Cell phone" means a portable wireless telephone device that
is designed to send or receive transmissions through a cellular
radiotelephone service;
2. "Personal electronic device" means any personal device
capable of connecting to a smart phone, the Internet, a cellular or
Wi-Fi network, or directly connecting to another similar device.
Personal electronic devices include, but are not limited to, smart
watches, smart headphones, laptops, tablets, and smart glasses.
Personal electronic devices shall not include devices that are
school-issued or school-approved and specifically limited for use in
classroom instruction; and
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3. "School day" means the entirety of the day, from the first
bell indicating the beginning of cl assroom instruction through the
final bell indicating the end of classroom instruction.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION OVERSIGHT, dated
02/11/2025 - DO PASS, As Amended and Coauthored.