CELL PHONE-FREE EDUCATION.

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View NCGA Bill Details(link is external)2025-2026 Session
House Bill 87 (Public) Filed Monday, February 10, 2025
AN ACT TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO RESTRICT STUDENT USE OF CELL PHONES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Intro. by N. Jackson, Biggs, Schietzelt, Eddins.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Mar 26 2025)
H 87

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Mar 25 2025 - View Summary

    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. 


  • 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. 


  • 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.