HB 781-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0843
02/09
HOUSE BILL 781-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires school districts to adopt policies governing student cell phone use in schools and makes an appropriation therefore.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0843
02/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Cell Phone Use Policy. Amend RSA 189:1-a by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:
V. School boards shall develop and adopt a policy governing student cell phone use in schools. Such policy shall restrict the use of student personal cell phones during class instruction without educator approval. Districts are encouraged to consider exceptions to student use during instruction when an educator is using devices as part of a lesson plan. School district policies shall not prohibit students with disabilities from using a device to support their learning as identified by their individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan.
2 Appropriation. The amount of $250,000 is appropriated from the general fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 to the department of education in order to reimburse districts for implementation of cell phone use policies pursuant to RSA 189:1-a, V. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant from any funds not otherwise appropriated. Such funds shall be nonlapsing.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0843
1/10/25
HB 781-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $352,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $250,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | $250,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | $0 | $0 | ||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill, assumed to be effective for the 2025-2026 school year, requires public schools to adopt policies to limit the use of smartphones by students, and provides a $250,000 general fund appropriation in FY 2026 to the Department of Education to reimburse districts for the implementation of cell phone use policies. While implementation costs for school districts is unknown, it is assumed the Department would receive reimbursement requests up to the $250,000 appropriation, and would make payments in FY 2026. The Department states it would need one (1) new seasonal temporary program specialist III position, at an estimated cost of $102,000 in FY 2026, to process reimbursement requests and distribute payments. This bill does not provide authorization for new personnel.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
Feb. 20, 2025: Executive Session: 03/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
Feb. 5, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/10/2025 10:15 am LOB 205-207
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 27