Bill Text: TX HB1446 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency on the effects of school district policies prohibiting student use of personal communication devices.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-21 - Filed [HB1446 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB1446-Introduced.html
| 89R3723 KRM-D | ||
| By: Goodwin | H.B. No. 1446 | |
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| relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency on the effects of | ||
| school district policies prohibiting student use of personal | ||
| communication devices. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 38.028 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 38.028. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| DEVICE PROHIBITIONS IN SCHOOLS. (a) The agency shall conduct a | ||
| study regarding the effect of school district policies that | ||
| prohibit a student from using a personal communication device, | ||
| including a cell phone, while on school property. | ||
| (b) The study must identify and examine schools with | ||
| comparable longitudinal student data, including: | ||
| (1) student population size; | ||
| (2) percentage of students demonstrating college, | ||
| career, or military readiness; | ||
| (3) percentage of students receiving special | ||
| education services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; | ||
| (4) percentage of emergent bilingual students, as | ||
| defined by Section 29.052; | ||
| (5) standardized test results before the school's | ||
| personal communication device policy was implemented; | ||
| (6) economic and gender demographics; | ||
| (7) total state funds returned to the school; and | ||
| (8) any other data the agency determines necessary. | ||
| (c) The agency shall assess schools identified under | ||
| Subsection (b) to determine the effects of prohibiting student use | ||
| of personal communication devices on: | ||
| (1) standardized test results; | ||
| (2) teacher turnover rates; | ||
| (3) student dropout rates; | ||
| (4) college, career, and military readiness outcomes; | ||
| and | ||
| (5) if available, teacher job satisfaction rates. | ||
| (d) In conducting the study, the agency may collaborate with | ||
| other state agencies, schools, nonprofit corporations, and other | ||
| interested persons. | ||
| (e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the agency shall: | ||
| (1) prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant | ||
| governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the | ||
| legislature a written report on the results of the study and any | ||
| recommendations for legislative or other action; and | ||
| (2) post the report described by Subdivision (1) on | ||
| the agency's Internet website. | ||
| (f) This section expires January 1, 2027. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
