Bill Text: IL HB3488 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that, on or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time, except as otherwise provided; and (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible storage of wireless devices during instructional time. Provides that the policy may not prohibit a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time: (1) when a teacher or instructor has authorized the student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes; (2) in an emergency or in response to an imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual; (3) when a licensed physician determines that the possession or use of a wireless communication device is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or (4) to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or a Section 504 plan developed under Section 504; or (5) when the wireless communication device is necessary for students who are English learners to access learning materials. Prohibits a district from enforcing the policy through fees, fines, the deployment of a School Resource Officer, or local law enforcement officer. Requires each school board to review the effectiveness of its wireless communication device policy at least every 3 years.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-20 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl [HB3488 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2025-HB3488-Introduced.html
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| 1 | AN ACT concerning education.
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| 2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 10-20.88, 27A-5-3, and 34-18.88 as follows:
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| 6 | (105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Sec. 10-20.88. Wireless communication device policy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | (a) As used in this Section, "wireless communication | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | device" means any portable wireless device that has the | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | communication between 2 or more parties, including, but not | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | limited to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | (1) cellular telephones; | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | (2) tablet computers; | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | (3) laptop computers; | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | (4) gaming devices; and | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | (5) wearable devices, including smart watches and | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | smart glasses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | device policy that: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | communication device during instructional time, except as | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1 | otherwise provided in subsection (c); and | ||||||
| 2 | (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible | ||||||
| 3 | storage of wireless devices during instructional time. | ||||||
| 4 | (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection | ||||||
| 5 | (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless | ||||||
| 6 | communication device during instructional time under the | ||||||
| 7 | following circumstances: | ||||||
| 8 | (1) when a teacher or instructor has authorized the | ||||||
| 9 | student to use a wireless communication device for | ||||||
| 10 | educational purposes; | ||||||
| 11 | (2) in an emergency or in response to an imminent | ||||||
| 12 | threat to the health or safety of an individual; | ||||||
| 13 | (3) when a licensed physician determines that the | ||||||
| 14 | possession or use of a wireless communication device is | ||||||
| 15 | necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or | ||||||
| 16 | (4) to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or a | ||||||
| 17 | plan developed under Section 504 of the Federal | ||||||
| 18 | Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or | ||||||
| 19 | (5) when the wireless communication device is | ||||||
| 20 | necessary for students who are English learners to access | ||||||
| 21 | learning materials. | ||||||
| 22 | (d) No district shall enforce this policy through fees, | ||||||
| 23 | fines, the deployment of a School Resource Officer, or local | ||||||
| 24 | law enforcement officer. | ||||||
| 25 | (e) Each school board shall review the effectiveness of | ||||||
| 26 | its wireless communication device policy at least every 3 | ||||||
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| 1 | years.
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| 2 | (105 ILCS 5/27A-5-3 new) | ||||||
| 3 | Sec. 27A-5-3. Wireless communication device policy. | ||||||
| 4 | (a) As used in this Section, "wireless communication | ||||||
| 5 | device" means any portable wireless device that has the | ||||||
| 6 | capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data | ||||||
| 7 | communication between 2 or more parties, including, but not | ||||||
| 8 | limited to: | ||||||
| 9 | (1) cellular telephones; | ||||||
| 10 | (2) tablet computers; | ||||||
| 11 | (3) laptop computers; | ||||||
| 12 | (4) gaming devices; and | ||||||
| 13 | (5) wearable devices, including smart watches and | ||||||
| 14 | smart glasses. | ||||||
| 15 | (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school | ||||||
| 16 | board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication | ||||||
| 17 | device policy that: | ||||||
| 18 | (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless | ||||||
| 19 | communication device during instructional time, except as | ||||||
| 20 | otherwise provided in subsection (c); and | ||||||
| 21 | (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible | ||||||
| 22 | storage of wireless devices during instructional time. | ||||||
| 23 | (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection | ||||||
| 24 | (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless | ||||||
| 25 | communication device during instructional time under the | ||||||
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| 1 | following circumstances: | ||||||
| 2 | (1) when a teacher or instructor has authorized the | ||||||
| 3 | student to use a wireless communication device for | ||||||
| 4 | educational purposes; | ||||||
| 5 | (2) in an emergency or in response to an imminent | ||||||
| 6 | threat to the health or safety of an individual; | ||||||
| 7 | (3) when a licensed physician determines that the | ||||||
| 8 | possession or use of a wireless communication device is | ||||||
| 9 | necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or | ||||||
| 10 | (4) to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or a | ||||||
| 11 | plan developed under Section 504 of the Federal | ||||||
| 12 | Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or | ||||||
| 13 | (5) when the wireless communication device is | ||||||
| 14 | necessary for students who are English learners to access | ||||||
| 15 | learning materials. | ||||||
| 16 | (d) No district shall enforce this policy through fees, | ||||||
| 17 | fines, the deployment of a School Resource Officer, or local | ||||||
| 18 | law enforcement officer. | ||||||
| 19 | (e) Each school board shall review the effectiveness of | ||||||
| 20 | its wireless communication device policy at least every 3 | ||||||
| 21 | years.
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| 22 | (105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new) | ||||||
| 23 | Sec. 34-18.88. Wireless communication device policy. | ||||||
| 24 | (a) As used in this Section, "wireless communication | ||||||
| 25 | device" means any portable wireless device that has the | ||||||
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| 1 | capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data | ||||||
| 2 | communication between 2 or more parties, including, but not | ||||||
| 3 | limited to: | ||||||
| 4 | (1) cellular telephones; | ||||||
| 5 | (2) tablet computers; | ||||||
| 6 | (3) laptop computers; | ||||||
| 7 | (4) gaming devices; and | ||||||
| 8 | (5) wearable devices, including smart watches and | ||||||
| 9 | smart glasses. | ||||||
| 10 | (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, each board | ||||||
| 11 | shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device | ||||||
| 12 | policy that: | ||||||
| 13 | (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless | ||||||
| 14 | communication device during instructional time, except as | ||||||
| 15 | otherwise provided in subsection (c); and | ||||||
| 16 | (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible | ||||||
| 17 | storage of wireless devices during instructional time. | ||||||
| 18 | (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection | ||||||
| 19 | (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless | ||||||
| 20 | communication device during instructional time under the | ||||||
| 21 | following circumstances: | ||||||
| 22 | (1) when a teacher or instructor has authorized the | ||||||
| 23 | student to use a wireless communication device for | ||||||
| 24 | educational purposes; | ||||||
| 25 | (2) in an emergency or in response to an imminent | ||||||
| 26 | threat to the health or safety of an individual; | ||||||
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| 1 | (3) when a licensed physician determines that the | ||||||
| 2 | possession or use of a wireless communication device is | ||||||
| 3 | necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or | ||||||
| 4 | (4) to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or a | ||||||
| 5 | plan developed under Section 504 of the Federal | ||||||
| 6 | Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or | ||||||
| 7 | (5) when the wireless communication device is | ||||||
| 8 | necessary for students who are English learners to access | ||||||
| 9 | learning materials. | ||||||
| 10 | (d) No district shall enforce this policy through fees, | ||||||
| 11 | fines, the deployment of a School Resource Officer, or local | ||||||
| 12 | law enforcement officer. | ||||||
| 13 | (e) Each board shall review the effectiveness of its | ||||||
| 14 | wireless communication device policy at least every 3 years. | ||||||