Part ofCharter Schools →
The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Enacted
Texas requires school districts and charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices during the school day
Original title: Relating to school district and open-enrollment charter school policies regarding student use of personal communication devices.
Last action · June 20, 2025: Effective immediatelySponsors: Fairly and 94 others
Companion · SB 2365same policy, Senate version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
Texas school districts and s must adopt and implement a written policy prohibiting students from using personal communication devices on school property during the school day, with mandatory exceptions for health, safety, and individualized education plans. The law takes effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2025.
Why it matters
Students face mandatory device bans during school hours across all public and charter campuses, while districts must establish storage rules, disciplinary measures, and disposal timelines for confiscated electronics without charging administrative fees.
Background
- H.B. 1481 was enacted during the 89th Texas Legislature regular session to standardize restrictions on student mobile device and smartphone use across public and charter schools. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
public school students
Students are prohibited from using personal communication devices on school property during the school day, subject to specific educational, medical, and safety exceptions.
Directly affected
school district boards of trustees
Boards of trustees are mandated to adopt, implement, and enforce a written policy prohibiting student use of personal communication devices within 90 days of the effective date.
Directly affected
parents and guardians
Parents receive written notice 90 days prior to a school's disposal of a confiscated device and are exempt from paying previous administrative release fees.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can schools still charge a fee to return confiscated phones?
No. The law removes the previous provision that allowed schools to charge an administrative fee of up to $15 before releasing a confiscated device.
Are there any exceptions where students are allowed to use personal communication devices?
Yes. Schools must allow device use if it is necessary for an , a , a qualified physician's directive, or health and safety requirements imposed by law or school protocols.
What happens to confiscated devices if parents do not pick them up?
Schools may dispose of confiscated devices in any reasonable manner after giving the student's parent 90 days' prior written notice.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
57 actions- Jun 20, 2025Governor of TexasEnrolledEffective immediately
- Jun 20, 2025Governor of TexasEnrolledSigned by the Governor
- May 28, 2025Governor of TexasEnrolledSent to the Governor
- May 27, 2025SenateSigned in the Senate
- May 27, 2025HouseSigned in the House
- May 26, 2025HouseReported enrolled
Show 51 earlier actions
- May 26, 2025HouseSenate passage reported
- May 25, 2025SenateFloorRecord vote
- May 25, 2025SenateFloorPassed
- May 25, 2025SenateFloorRead 3rd time
- May 25, 2025SenateFloorRecord vote
- May 25, 2025SenateThree day rule suspended
- May 25, 2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
- May 25, 2025SenateFloorRead 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
- May 25, 2025SenateRules suspended-Regular order of business
- May 25, 2025SenatePlaced on intent calendar
- May 25, 2025SenateCo-sponsor authorized
- May 22, 2025SenateCommittee report printed and distributed
- May 22, 2025SenateRecommended for local & uncontested calendar
- May 22, 2025SenateCommitteeReported favorably w/o amendments
- May 22, 2025SenateCo-sponsor authorized
- May 21, 2025SenateVote taken in committee
- May 21, 2025SenateConsidered in public hearing
- May 21, 2025SenateCo-sponsor authorized
- May 20, 2025SenateLeft pending in committee
- May 20, 2025SenateTestimony taken in committee
- May 20, 2025SenateConsidered in public hearing
- May 20, 2025SenateScheduled for public hearing on . . .
- May 20, 2025SenateCo-sponsor authorized
- May 6, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Education K-16
- May 6, 2025SenateIntroducedRead first time
- Apr 24, 2025SenateReceived from the House
- Apr 24, 2025HouseReported engrossed
- Apr 24, 2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Apr 24, 2025HouseFloorRecord vote (RV#470)
- Apr 24, 2025HouseFloorPassed
- Apr 24, 2025HouseFloorRead 3rd time
- Apr 23, 2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
- Apr 23, 2025HouseFloorRecord vote (RV#425)
- Apr 23, 2025HouseFloorPassed to engrossment
- Apr 23, 2025HouseFloorRead 2nd time
- Apr 23, 2025HousePlaced on General State Calendar
- Apr 17, 2025HouseConsidered in Calendars
- Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee report sent to Calendars
- Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee report distributed
- Apr 8, 2025HouseComte report filed with Committee Coordinator
- Apr 3, 2025HouseCommitteeReported favorably as substituted
- Apr 3, 2025HouseCommittee substitute considered in committee
- Apr 3, 2025HouseConsidered in formal meeting
- Mar 18, 2025HouseLeft pending in committee
- Mar 18, 2025HouseTestimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Mar 18, 2025HouseCommittee substitute considered in committee
- Mar 18, 2025HouseConsidered in public hearing
- Mar 18, 2025HouseScheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Mar 11, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Public Education
- Mar 11, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Dec 2, 2024HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
HB 1481 was passed
Total
144
- Yes
- 124
- No
- 16
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 3
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 1
How they voted (144)
Lacey HullParty not recordedyes
Trey WhartonParty not recordedyes
Cole HefnerParty not recordedyes
Don McLaughlinParty not recordedyes
John SmitheeParty not recordedyes
Steve TothParty not recordedno
Mary Ann PerezParty not recordedyes
Gene WuParty not recordedyes
Vince PerezParty not recordedyes
Morales ShawParty not recordedyes
Nicole CollierParty not recordedno
Ron ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Marc LaHoodParty not recordedyes
James FrankParty not recordedno
Brad BuckleyParty not recordedyes
Ward JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Ken KingParty not recordedyes
Giovanni CapriglioneParty not recordedyes
Mike SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Salman BhojaniParty not recordedyes
Ryan GuillenParty not recordedyes
Josey GarciaParty not recordedno
Brooks LandgrafParty not recordedyes
Tom CraddickParty not recordedyes
120 more members
Matt MorganParty not recordedyes
Ray LopezParty not recordedyes
Hillary HicklandParty not recordedyes
Rodríguez RamosParty not recordedno
Stan GerdesParty not recordedyes
David CookParty not recordedyes
Will MetcalfParty not recordedyes
David LoweParty not recordedno
James TalaricoParty not recordedyes
Terry MezaParty not recordedyes
Keith BellParty not recordedyes
Charlie GerenParty not recordedyes
Leo WilsonParty not recordedno
Ramon RomeroParty not recordedyes
Jo JonesParty not recordedyes
Alma AllenParty not recordedyes
Daniel AldersParty not recordedyes
Barbara Gervin-HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Mark DorazioParty not recordedyes
Helen KerwinParty not recordedyes
Donna HowardParty not recordedyes
Mano DeAyalaParty not recordedyes
Sergio MuñozParty not recordedyes
Rhetta BowersParty not recordedyes
Stan LambertParty not recordedyes
Yvonne DavisParty not recordedyes
Gina HinojosaParty not recordedyes
Shelley LutherParty not recordedyes
Mihaela PleșaParty not recordedyes
Candy NobleParty not recordedyes
Todd HunterParty not recordedyes
Charles CunninghamParty not recordedyes
Oscar LongoriaParty not recordedyes
Sheryl ColeParty not recordedyes
Carl TepperParty not recordedyes
Mary GonzálezParty not recordedyes
Jeff LeachParty not recordedyes
Terry CanalesParty not recordedno
Cas Garcia HernandezParty not recordedyes
David SpillerParty not recordedyes
Hubert VoParty not recordedexcused
Mitch LittleParty not recordedno
Linda GarciaParty not recordedyes
Gary GatesParty not recordedyes
Jessica GonzálezParty not recordedyes
Harris DavilaParty not recordedyes
Terry WilsonParty not recordedyes
Christian ManuelParty not recordedyes
Vikki GoodwinParty not recordedyes
Matt ShaheenParty not recordedno
Aicha DavisParty not recordedyes
Harold DuttonParty not recordedyes
Martinez FischerParty not recordedabsent
Brian HarrisonParty not recordedno
Ben BumgarnerParty not recordedyes
Venton JonesParty not recordedyes
Wes VirdellParty not recordedyes
John BryantParty not recordedyes
Cody VasutParty not recordedyes
Joe MoodyParty not recordedyes
Senfronia ThompsonParty not recordedyes
Angelia OrrParty not recordedyes
Jon RosenthalParty not recordedyes
Philip CortezParty not recordedyes
Claudia OrdazParty not recordedyes
Cody HarrisParty not recordednot voting
Jeff BarryParty not recordedyes
Lulu FloresParty not recordedyes
A.J. LouderbackParty not recordedyes
Alan SchoolcraftParty not recordedyes
Valoree SwansonParty not recordedno
Greg BonnenParty not recordedyes
Dennis PaulParty not recordedyes
Rafael AnchíaParty not recordedyes
Stan KitzmanParty not recordedyes
Lauren SimmonsParty not recordedyes
Paul DysonParty not recordedyes
Janie LopezParty not recordedyes
Mando MartinezParty not recordedyes
Morgan MeyerParty not recordedyes
J.M. LozanoParty not recordedyes
Tom OliversonParty not recordedyes
Suleman LalaniParty not recordedyes
Brent MoneyParty not recordedyes
Drew DarbyParty not recordedyes
Erin GámezParty not recordedyes
Diego BernalParty not recordedyes
Shelby SlawsonParty not recordedabsent
Eddie MoralesParty not recordedyes
Joanne ShofnerParty not recordedyes
Bobby GuerraParty not recordedyes
Ellen TroxclairParty not recordedyes
Keresa RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Jay DeanParty not recordedyes
Jared PattersonParty not recordedyes
Angie ButtonParty not recordedyes
Sam HarlessParty not recordedyes
Pat CurryParty not recordedyes
Richard HayesParty not recordedno
John McQueeneyParty not recordedyes
Andy HopperParty not recordedyes
Chris TurnerParty not recordedyes
John LujanParty not recordedyes
Richard RaymondParty not recordedyes
Briscoe CainParty not recordedno
John BucyParty not recordedyes
Armando WalleParty not recordedyes
Dade PhelanParty not recordedyes
Toni RoseParty not recordedyes
Denise VillalobosParty not recordedyes
Trent AshbyParty not recordedyes
Tony TinderholtParty not recordedno
Erin ZwienerParty not recordedyes
Carrie IsaacParty not recordedyes
Christina MoralesParty not recordedyes
Liz CamposParty not recordedyes
Janis HoltParty not recordedyes
Cecil BellParty not recordedyes
Mike OlcottParty not recordedno
Katrina PiersonParty not recordedyes
Show 1 earlier roll call
CSHB 1481 was passed to engrossment
Total
144
- Yes
- 131
- No
- 10
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 3
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (144)
Philip CortezParty not recordedyes
Ray LopezParty not recordedyes
Shelley LutherParty not recordedyes
Joanne ShofnerParty not recordedyes
Cecil BellParty not recordedyes
Alma AllenParty not recordedyes
Matt MorganParty not recordedyes
Vince PerezParty not recordedyes
Brad BuckleyParty not recordedyes
Brian HarrisonParty not recordedno
Keresa RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Carl TepperParty not recordedyes
Jon RosenthalParty not recordedyes
Briscoe CainParty not recordedyes
Jeff BarryParty not recordedyes
Lulu FloresParty not recordedyes
Eddie MoralesParty not recordedyes
Steve TothParty not recordedyes
Candy NobleParty not recordedyes
Mike OlcottParty not recordedno
Richard HayesParty not recordedyes
Tom OliversonParty not recordedyes
Richard RaymondParty not recordedyes
John McQueeneyParty not recordedyes
120 more members
Mitch LittleParty not recordedno
Mihaela PleșaParty not recordedyes
Ken KingParty not recordedyes
Suleman LalaniParty not recordedyes
Greg BonnenParty not recordedyes
Salman BhojaniParty not recordedyes
Paul DysonParty not recordedyes
James FrankParty not recordedyes
Denise VillalobosParty not recordedyes
John LujanParty not recordedyes
Daniel AldersParty not recordedyes
Oscar LongoriaParty not recordedyes
Ellen TroxclairParty not recordedyes
Harris DavilaParty not recordedyes
Joe MoodyParty not recordedyes
Erin GámezParty not recordedyes
Carrie IsaacParty not recordedyes
Hubert VoParty not recordedyes
John BryantParty not recordedyes
Donna HowardParty not recordedyes
J.M. LozanoParty not recordedyes
Alan SchoolcraftParty not recordedyes
Rhetta BowersParty not recordedyes
Hillary HicklandParty not recordedyes
Sheryl ColeParty not recordedyes
Mark DorazioParty not recordedyes
Wes VirdellParty not recordedabsent
John SmitheeParty not recordedyes
Christian ManuelParty not recordedyes
Linda GarciaParty not recordedyes
Aicha DavisParty not recordedyes
Trey WhartonParty not recordedyes
Katrina PiersonParty not recordedyes
Stan GerdesParty not recordedyes
Dennis PaulParty not recordedyes
Charles CunninghamParty not recordedyes
Cody HarrisParty not recordednot voting
Stan LambertParty not recordedyes
Diego BernalParty not recordedyes
Mike SchofieldParty not recordedyes
James TalaricoParty not recordedyes
Venton JonesParty not recordedyes
Jared PattersonParty not recordedyes
Harold DuttonParty not recordedyes
Rodríguez RamosParty not recordedno
Christina MoralesParty not recordedyes
Sergio MuñozParty not recordedno
Jessica GonzálezParty not recordedyes
Will MetcalfParty not recordedyes
Mano DeAyalaParty not recordedyes
Don McLaughlinParty not recordedyes
Yvonne DavisParty not recordedyes
Cas Garcia HernandezParty not recordedyes
David SpillerParty not recordedyes
Morgan MeyerParty not recordedyes
Tom CraddickParty not recordedyes
Stan KitzmanParty not recordedyes
Bobby GuerraParty not recordedyes
Janis HoltParty not recordedyes
Armando WalleParty not recordedyes
Cole HefnerParty not recordedyes
Liz CamposParty not recordedyes
Brooks LandgrafParty not recordedyes
A.J. LouderbackParty not recordedyes
Ward JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Pat CurryParty not recordedyes
Janie LopezParty not recordedyes
Drew DarbyParty not recordedyes
John BucyParty not recordedyes
Todd HunterParty not recordedabsent
David LoweParty not recordedno
Ramon RomeroParty not recordedyes
Angie ButtonParty not recordedyes
Jeff LeachParty not recordedyes
Morales ShawParty not recordedyes
Cody VasutParty not recordedyes
Sam HarlessParty not recordedyes
Leo WilsonParty not recordedno
Vikki GoodwinParty not recordedyes
Ryan GuillenParty not recordedyes
David CookParty not recordedyes
Dade PhelanParty not recordedyes
Giovanni CapriglioneParty not recordedyes
Ben BumgarnerParty not recordedyes
Nicole CollierParty not recordedno
Tony TinderholtParty not recordedyes
Terry MezaParty not recordedyes
Matt ShaheenParty not recordedyes
Toni RoseParty not recordedyes
Lauren SimmonsParty not recordedyes
Valoree SwansonParty not recordedno
Terry CanalesParty not recordedno
Ron ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Jo JonesParty not recordedyes
Angelia OrrParty not recordedyes
Barbara Gervin-HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Andy HopperParty not recordedyes
Gina HinojosaParty not recordedyes
Martinez FischerParty not recordedyes
Shelby SlawsonParty not recordedyes
Brent MoneyParty not recordedyes
Jay DeanParty not recordedyes
Chris TurnerParty not recordedyes
Gary GatesParty not recordedyes
Helen KerwinParty not recordedyes
Keith BellParty not recordedyes
Rafael AnchíaParty not recordedyes
Lacey HullParty not recordedyes
Claudia OrdazParty not recordedyes
Charlie GerenParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann PerezParty not recordedyes
Josey GarciaParty not recordedyes
Gene WuParty not recordedyes
Mando MartinezParty not recordedyes
Mary GonzálezParty not recordedyes
Terry WilsonParty not recordedyes
Erin ZwienerParty not recordedyes
Trent AshbyParty not recordedyes
Senfronia ThompsonParty not recordedyes
Marc LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
FairlyHouseAuthorNo profile match
JohnsonHouseAuthorNo profile match
Show 90 more sponsors
CreightonSenateSponsorNo profile match
HernandezHouseCoauthorNo profile match
SchatzlineHouseCoauthorNo profile match
VanDeaverHouseCoauthorNo profile match
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift99% confidence
Shift from Discretionary Permitting to Mandatory Prohibitions
The legislation changes previous statutory language from permitting school boards to regulate paging devices to explicitly requiring them to prohibit personal communication device use during the school day.
financial connection99% confidence
Elimination of Confiscation Release Fees
The bill explicitly removes the statutory provision allowing districts to charge a $15 administrative fee to parents for releasing confiscated devices.
Connected Entities
OrganizationEducation Code“Amended statute governing student possession and use of personal communication d”Map →
OrganizationFederal Communications Commission“Reference to amateur radio station licenses in prior statutory text.”Map →
Sources
Open source document
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz55Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools