SB 178 Utah Senate · 2025 General Session

Devices in Public Schools

SB 178 prohibits students in Utah public schools from using cellphones, smart watches, or "emerging technology" during classroom hours. It directly affects all K-12 students in Utah public schools, with exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, IEP accommodations, or using the SafeUT Crisis Line. Local schools may create their own exemption policies, and the State Board of Education can develop model policies to guide implementation. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not appropriate funding.

Issues: ✓ Education ✗ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Signed Mar 26, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to narrow the prohibition on electronic devices from the entire school day to only 'classroom hours,' allowing students to use devices during other times like lunch and recess. Additionally, the authority to set extra restrictions was shifted from local school districts to the state board of education, which can now extend bans to non-classroom times if desired.

Scope change

The scope of the device ban was reduced from covering the entire school day to applying only during scheduled, teacher-supervised instruction (classroom hours).

SCOPE

The prohibition on using cellphones, smart watches, and emerging technology now applies only during 'classroom hours' rather than the entire school day.

REQUIREMENT

Local education agencies no longer have a mandatory requirement to provide a designated space for device use during non-classroom hours; this requirement was removed.

Local education agencies are now permitted to establish policies that extend device restrictions to non-classroom hours (such as lunch and recess) if they choose to do so.

ENFORCEMENT

The power to create model policies regarding device use was expanded to allow the State Board of Education to include rules for non-classroom hours.

Floor votes

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

Mar 26, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Feb 28, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor