HB 408 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Prohibits student use of telecommunications devices during regularly scheduled instructional activities

HB 408 requires Missouri school districts to adopt written policies banning student use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices during regular class time starting in the 2025-26 school year. The policy must prohibit devices in classrooms unless authorized by a principal, require students to turn off and store devices during instruction, and include exceptions for students with IEPs, 504 plans, or individualized health care plans. It also mandates guidelines for device use during non-instructional activities like field trips. The law directly affects all K-12 public school students and school districts across Missouri.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 5, 2024 Last action Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute → Perfected · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to shift focus from regulating student electronic device usage to establishing comprehensive school safety measures. The original text required schools to create policies limiting student device use during instructional time, while the new version repeals those provisions and replaces them with requirements for reporting school safety incidents, maintaining safety databases, and adopting antibullying policies.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from regulating student technology use to establishing school safety reporting and antibullying requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Removed requirements for schools to adopt policies prohibiting student use of electronic personal communications devices during instructional time.

Added requirements for local educational agencies to regularly report school safety incidents and credible threats to the state department of education.

Added mandate for the state department to maintain a database of school safety incidents containing only aggregate data without personally identifiable student information.

Added requirement for districts to adopt antibullying policies by September 1, 2007, with specific definitions for bullying and violent behavior.

TIMELINE

Changed the bill's effective timeline and repealed the previous section 160.775 to enact eight new sections covering various school safety topics.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2025

Committee

Second read and referred: Education(S)

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 132 NOES: 11 PRESENT: 10

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, HA 2, HA 3, HA 4, HA 1 to HA 5, HA 5 as amended adopted

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 6 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 1

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 20 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Committee

Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education(H)

lower

Dec 5, 2024

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors