SB 206-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/13/2025 0742s
2025 SESSION
25-1036
02/05
SENATE BILL 206-FN
AN ACT requiring public schools to adopt policies to limit the use of cell phones by students.
SPONSORS: Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires school districts to adopt policies governing student cell phone use in schools.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/13/2025 0742s 25-1036
02/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT requiring public schools to adopt policies to limit the use of cell phones by students.
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 define a policy for personal device use by students during the school day and be implemented school-wide, with approved exceptions determined by student medical, disability, or language proficiency need. Such policy shall be developed in collaboration with school district teachers and parents and shall be reviewed and updated annually. 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), plan developed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C 794, or when required to support emergent multilingual students with appropriate language access programs and services pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The policy shall include a description of the administration’s involvement should policies not be enforced in the classroom or disregarded by students.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-1036
4/16/25
SB 206-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2025-0742s)
AN ACT requiring public schools to adopt policies to limit the use of cell phones by students.
FISCAL IMPACT:
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 |
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||
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. Costs associated with this bill, if any, are indeterminable and would vary from district to district.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | 2025-0742s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 4, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 13, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 7, 2025 | House | Hearing |
April 1, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/07/2025 10:15 am LOB 205-207
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 11
March 13, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0742s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
March 13, 2025: Committee Amendment # 2025-0742s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
March 7, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0742s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
Jan. 28, 2025: Hearing: 02/04/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:45 am; SC 8
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 3