BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) — A young lawmaker from Texas has taken a bold step to limit how students use cell phones in public schools. Caroline Fairly, the only Gen Z member of the Texas Legislature, has filed House Bill 1481, which could stop students from using their personal electronic devices on campus unless needed for learning.
What Does House Bill 1481 Say?
Representative Caroline Fairly, a Republican from Amarillo, introduced the bill to reduce distractions in classrooms and encourage more focus on studies. The bill clearly states that cell phones, laptops, tablets, and other personal devices should not be allowed on school campuses unless they are being used for educational purposes or for medical reasons.
However, it’s not a strict one-size-fits-all rule. School districts are allowed some flexibility. They can develop their own policies, but they must still follow the law. One important requirement is that schools must provide a ‘secure, out-of-sight’ storage area where students can safely keep their devices during the school day.
No Funding Support in the Bill
One big issue raised by school leaders and lawmakers is that the bill doesn’t offer financial help for schools to buy the storage supplies they’ll need. In simple words, schools will have to pay out of their own pocket to create or buy storage containers for the students’ devices.
The Legislative Budget Board reviewed the bill and reported that schools will likely face extra costs because of this. Since the bill does not come with any money to cover these expenses, many leaders are calling it an “unfunded mandate”—a rule that schools are forced to follow without being given the money to implement it.
What School Leaders Are Saying
Superintendents and educators are already feeling the heat from past rules like this. Adrian Johnson, Superintendent of Hearne ISD, shared his concerns openly. He pointed out that schools are still struggling to meet safety mandates issued during the last legislative session, and now there’s another new rule to follow—with no extra funding attached.
“This is an added challenge to us to have, but not have funding to implement these mandates that we currently have to face,” Johnson said.
What Other Lawmakers Think
The bill is getting support from several other representatives in the Brazos Valley. Two lawmakers, Trey Wharton and Stan Gerdes, have signed on as coauthors. The fact that both Republicans and Democrats are backing the bill shows that the issue of reducing phone usage in schools cuts across party lines.
However, not everyone is ready to vote ‘yes.’
Paul Dyson, another representative from Brazos County, says he’s “on the fence.” He agrees that cell phone use in schools is a problem but is hesitant about making it a state mandate, especially one that doesn’t provide funding.
“I don’t know if I’m quite there yet on a state mandate, but I sure would love for some type of legislation to come out that is encouraging or at least setting a floor of what we’d like to see the public schools do,” Dyson said.
He’s also worried about the unfunded mandate part, something he has always stood firmly against. Despite this concern, Dyson supports the general idea of limiting cell phone usage in schools.
Why Is This Bill Important?
The increasing use of cell phones in schools has become a hot topic. Many educators and parents believe that smartphones are a major distraction, keeping students from paying attention in class and affecting their grades. Social media, messaging, and games can easily shift focus away from lessons.
Supporters of the bill argue that banning phones could help:
- Improve student concentration.
- Reduce cyberbullying incidents.
- Encourage face-to-face communication.
- Create a better learning environment.
On the other hand, critics worry about:
- Students needing access to phones for emergencies.
- The financial burden on schools to store devices.
- Lack of flexibility if the law is too strict.
What’s Next?
House Bill 1481 is still in the early stages, and it has a long way to go before it becomes law. The debate over the bill is heating up as lawmakers, educators, and parents voice their opinions.
Will Texas become one of the first states to strictly ban personal electronic devices in public schools? Or will concerns about funding and flexibility cause lawmakers to rethink?
One thing is clear—cell phone use in schools is an issue people care deeply about, and the conversation is far from over.
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