An act relating to schools, the official text

1                            STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2            1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 1276            By: Caldwell (Chad)

4

5

6

7                            AS INTRODUCED

8   An Act relating to schools; requiring district boards

    of education to adopt a policy prohibiting student

9   cell phone and smartwatch use under certain

    circumstances; requiring exceptions for emergencies;

10  allowing board approval to opt out; requiring annual

    approval of opt out policies; defining terms;

11  providing for codification; providing an effective

    date; and declaring an emergency.

12

13

14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

15  SECTION 1.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

16 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24-162 of Title 70, unless there

17 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

18  A. Before the start of the 2025-2026 school year, each school

19 district board of education shall adopt a policy to prohibit the use

20 of cell phones and smartwatches by students enrolled in the district

21 during the entirety of the school day and while present on school

22 grounds.

23  B. District policies described in subsection A of this section

24 shall incorporate provisions for emergency use including, but not

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1 limited to, use to support medical issues documented by a licensed

2 medical professional.

3   C. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a school

4 district board of education may vote to adopt a policy allowing

5 student cell phone or smartwatch usage during the school day. Any

6 such policy shall be reviewed and approved by the district board on

7 an annual basis.

8   D. For purposes of this section:

9   1. "Cell phone" means a portable wireless telephone device that

10 is designed to send or receive transmissions through a cellular

11 radiotelephone service;

12  2. "School day" means the entirety of the day from the first

13 bell indicating the beginning of classroom instruction through the

14 final bell indicating the end of classroom instruction; and

15  3. "Smartwatch" means a wearable electronic device, designed to

16 be worn on the wrist, featuring functionalities such as

17 notifications and app support.

18  SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.

19  SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

20 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby

21 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and

22 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

23

24  60-1-10157      SW      01/14/25

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