MONTGOMERY — A bill banning cellphone usage in Alabama’s public school classrooms touted by Gov. Kay Ivey in Tuesday’s State of the State Address was filed on Wednesday in the Alabama House of Representatives.
House Bill 166 (HB166), sponsored by State Rep. Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena), addresses students’ use of cell phones and other wireless devices during the day’s instructional period.
Under existing law, a local board of education may permit a pupil to carry or use a cell phone or other electronic communication device while on school property. HB166 would repeal that law and place new restrictions and requirements on students using “wireless communications devices.”
Under the bill’s provisions, a wireless communication device is defined as “a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, pager, gaming device, or any other portable electronic device identified in a wireless communication device policy that has the capability of exchanging voice, messaging, or other data communication with another electronic device.”
Should the bill pass, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, no student may possess a wireless communication device in any public elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds during the instructional day. The bill allows for devices to remain on school grounds so long as they are turned off and stored in a locker, backpack, car or similar storage location.
Additionally, the bill provides the following exceptions:
· The device is needed for the student’s Individualized Education Program, Individualized Accommodation Plan, Section 504 plan or Individualized Health Plan.
· The device is used for educational or learning purposes under the supervision of local board of education personnel.
· The device is used during an emergency threatening the health, safety, or well-being of the student or another person.
· The device is meant for health, safety, family or educational purposes as authorized in a wireless communication device policy.
The bill also requires local boards of education to adopt policies governing cell phone use.
Policies will require students to access devices for a “reasonable amount of time” during the instructional day, not to exceed ten minutes. The board’s device policy must also include consequences for violations.
The policy will also require education boards to adopt policies limiting internet access by students on school-provided devices.
This includes:
· Limit internet access by students to only age-appropriate subject matters and materials deemed age-appropriate.
· Protect the safety and security of students when using email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communication.
· Prohibit access by students to unlawfully obtained data or information, including hacking and other unlawful online activity.
· Prevent access to websites, web applications, or software that exposes students to the disclosure, use, or dissemination of their personal information.
· Prohibit and prevent students from accessing social media platforms, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.
Lastly, the bill requires the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) to create an online social media safety course that will be mandatory for all students entering the Eighth Grade.
The training is required to include instruction on the positive sides of social media, such as career searching, resume building, employment opportunities and connecting with friends and family.
The training will also highlight the multiple pitfalls of social media, including “addiction; the distribution of misinformation on social media; how social media manipulates behavior; [and] the permanency of sharing materials online.
The bill must pass through the House Education Committee before getting a vote on the House floor. If passed, the bill would go into effect immediately after being signed into law by Ivey.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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