House amendment to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.
Requires the cell phone-free education policy required under GS 115C-77.1 to permit student use of cell phones during instructional time as follows: (1) if authorized by a teacher for educational purposes; (2) as required by a student’s individualized education plan or Section 504 plan; and (3) as required to manage a student’s health care, in accordance with a documented medical condition. Allows the governing body of a public school unit to establish parameters that must be followed by a teacher allowing cell phone usage for instructional purposes. Makes conforming changes.
CELL PHONE-FREE EDUCATION.
Printer-friendly: Click to view
View NCGA Bill Details(link is external) | 2025-2026 Session |
AN ACT TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO RESTRICT STUDENT USE OF CELL PHONES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.Intro. by N. Jackson, Biggs, Schietzelt, Eddins.
Bill History:
-
Mon, 10 Feb 2025 House: Filed(link is external)
-
Tue, 11 Feb 2025 House: Passed 1st Reading(link is external)
-
Tue, 25 Feb 2025 House: Reptd Fav Com Substitute(link is external)
-
Tue, 25 Feb 2025 House: Re-ref Com On Judiciary 3(link is external)
-
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 House: Reptd Fav(link is external)
-
Mon, 24 Mar 2025 House: Reptd Fav(link is external)
-
Mon, 24 Mar 2025 House: Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)(link is external)
-
Mon, 24 Mar 2025 House: Placed On Cal For 03/25/2025(link is external)
-
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 House: Amend Adopted A1(link is external)
-
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 House: Passed 2nd Reading(link is external)
-
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 House: Passed 3rd Reading(link is external)
-
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 House: Ordered Engrossed(link is external)
-
Wed, 26 Mar 2025 House: Regular Message Sent To Senate(link is external)
-
Wed, 26 Mar 2025 Senate: Regular Message Received From House(link is external)
-
Wed, 26 Mar 2025 Senate: Passed 1st Reading(link is external)
Bill Summaries:
-
Bill H 87 (2025-2026)Summary date: Mar 25 2025 - View Summary
-
Bill H 87 (2025-2026)Summary date: Feb 25 2025 - View Summary
House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Exempts remote charter academies and remote academies from GS 115C-77.1's requirement that a public school adopt a cell phone-free education policy. Directs that new GS 115C-77.1 as enacted by the act does not apply to the virtual charter schools participating in the pilot program authorized under Section 8.35 of SL 2014-100, as amended.
-
Bill H 87 (2025-2026)Summary date: Feb 10 2025 - View Summary
Adds a new Part 7, Classroom Policies, to Article 7B of GS Chapter 115C, consisting of new GS 115C-77.1, requiring public school unit governing bodies to adopt cell phone-free education policies that eliminate or severely restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time. Requires notifying parents at the beginning of each school year of the Cell Phone-Free Education Policy. Applies beginning with the 2025-26 school year.