HB 1481 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to school district and open-enrollment charter school policies regarding student use of personal communication devices.

HB 1481 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt written policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day on school property or at school events. Exceptions allow device use for students with documented medical needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or health/safety protocols. Schools may implement either a full device ban or a secure storage system for devices during school hours, and must return confiscated devices or dispose of them after providing parents 90 days' written notice. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 3 edits · Jun 20, 2025

MINOR

This bill amends Texas Education Code Section 37.082 regarding student use of personal communication devices. The changes primarily involve formatting and structural updates to the enrolled version of the bill, with no substantive policy modifications to the actual requirements for school districts. The bill maintains existing rules about prohibiting student device use, allowing confiscation, and requiring policies for students with documented medical needs.

TECHNICAL

Formatting and structural updates to convert the bill from engrossed to enrolled version, including removal of sponsor names and addition of certification signatures.

Minor text formatting adjustments in the Education Code section, such as spacing and line breaks, without changing the substantive legal requirements.

Addition of certification language confirming the bill was passed by both houses of the legislature with specific vote counts and dates.

Floor votes · House Apr 23, 2025

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 20, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

May 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate passage reported

lower

May 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

May 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

May 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education K-16

upper

May 6, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to Public Education

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

5 primary · 87 co-sponsors