As school starts back up after the recent summer break, and people start getting back into the flow of their everyday school life, many have been noticing the phone rules cracking down a lot more than previous years. The change in attitude of phones is due to a bill passing over the summer, House Bill 959, that was signed July 1, 2025.
House Bill 959 details the safety measures and the new regulations in schools that will attempt to make schools a safer and more productive learning environment. The bill states that students should have their phones stored away throughout the entire school day unless students fall under certain expectations.
Students are not allowed to have access to their phone unless it is allowed by a teacher for educational purposes – even during those times, teachers must be supervising the students. Other than just teacher-allowed time, there are a few exceptions. Students with 504 plans, Individual Education Programs (IEPs), students with special needs or students that need phones in times of medical emergency are allowed to use their phones without repercussions…