An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, providing for restricting possession and use by students of mobile devices.
HB 1238 requires Pennsylvania public schools (including charter and cyber charter schools) to adopt policies restricting student mobile device use during instructional time. School boards must create written policies specifying secure storage options (like lockboxes), retrieval procedures, and parent-communication methods during class. Exceptions allow device use for medical needs, disability accommodations, language learning, volunteer emergency duties, or teacher-approved educational purposes. The bill defines "instructional time" as class periods, excluding breaks or lunch, and prohibits school-owned devices from being covered under this restriction. This policy applies to all students in school buildings during instructional hours.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 17, 2025
Last action Apr 17, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education
lower
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barb Gleim
RRepublican
Co
Andrew Kuzma
RRepublican
Co
Craig Staats
RRepublican
Co
Dave Zimmerman
RRepublican
Co
David Rowe
RRepublican
Co
Donna Scheuren
RRepublican
Co
Jason Ortitay
RRepublican
Co
Jeff Olsommer
RRepublican
Co
Jill Cooper
RRepublican
Co
Lee James
RRepublican
Co
Marc Anderson
RRepublican
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