HB81 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Pebblin W. WarrenRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Public K-12 education; State Board of Education required to adopt model student cell phone use policy, local boards of education required to adopt cell phone use and storage policy

Summary

HB81 would require Alabama's State Board of Education to create a model cell phone policy for public K-12 classrooms and require local districts to adopt corresponding use and storage policies.

What This Bill Does

The State Board must adopt a model policy prohibiting possession or use of electronic devices during classroom instructional time, with exceptions for emergencies, health care, teacher-approved educational use, and certain IEP/504 accommodations. The policy must include an escalating discipline scale and fines for repeat violations, plus penalties such as warnings, confiscation, and parental contact. Local boards must adopt policies reflecting the model policy on use and storage of devices (devices stored in lockers or designated areas) and may exceed minimum discipline standards. Key timelines: the state policy must be adopted by January 1, 2026; the act becomes effective June 1, 2025; local boards must adopt and implement policies by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students in Alabama who would be restricted from possessing or using electronic devices during classroom instructional time, with specified exceptions and potential disciplinary actions.
• Local boards of education (school districts) in Alabama, which must adopt and implement policies on the use and storage of electronic devices based on the state model policy.

Key Provisions

• State Board must adopt a model policy prohibiting possession and use of electronic communication devices during classroom instructional time, with exceptions for emergencies, health care management, teacher-approved educational use, and IEP/504 accommodations.
• Model policy must include a discipline scale with escalating penalties and a fine for repeated violations; penalties may also include warnings, confiscation of the device, and parental contact, and potentially suspension.
• Local boards must adopt and implement a local policy related to the use and storage of electronic devices; devices must be stored in student lockers or a designated area during classroom instructional time; policy must reflect the model policy and allow districts to exceed minimum discipline standards.
• Definitions are provided for classroom instructional time, electronic communication device, and state board within the policy.
• Timelines: the state policy must be adopted by January 1, 2026; the act takes effect June 1, 2025; local boards must adopt and implement policies by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

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