HB364 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Leigh HulseyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public K-12 schools, each local board of education required to adopt an Internet safety policy for district-owned devices used in schools, prohibit use of certain platforms, provide social media instruction in certain grades

Summary

HB364 would require district Internet safety policies for district-owned devices, ban certain platforms including TikTok from district communications, and provide social media safety instruction for grades 6-12 with materials available online to parents.

What This Bill Does

Requires local boards to adopt an Internet safety policy for student use of the Internet on district-owned devices. The policy would limit content to age-appropriate material, protect safety in email and other electronic communications, prohibit unlawful online activity, and restrict access to sites and apps that do not protect personal information. It would also prohibit most social media use unless directed by a teacher for educational purposes and ban TikTok or successor platforms from district communications about schools, clubs, or teams. In addition, schools must provide instruction in grades 6-12 on the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media, with instructional materials posted online for parents, and the State Board would adopt rules to implement the bill; the act takes effect July 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Students in grades 6-12: their use of Internet on school devices would be governed by the new policy; access to social media is prohibited unless directed by a teacher for class, and TikTok would be banned from district communications.
• Local boards of education and school districts: must adopt, implement, and enforce the policy; provide the required instruction; notify parents about available instructional materials; and coordinate with the state to publish materials online and adopt administrative rules.

Key Provisions

• Require local boards to adopt an Internet safety policy for district-owned devices, with limits on age-appropriate content, safety protections for electronic communications, bans on unlawful online activity, and restrictions on sites/apps that protect personal information.
• Prohibit access to social media platforms except when directed by a teacher for educational purposes; ban TikTok or successor platforms from district communications about schools, clubs, or teams.
• Require instruction for grades 6-12 on the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media, including mental health effects, misinformation, manipulation, online permanence, personal security, cyberbullying, predatory behavior, human trafficking, and reporting suspicious activity.
• State Department of Education must publish the instructional materials online and notify parents of their availability.
• State Board of Education must adopt rules to administer the section, with the act becoming effective on July 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education