Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours and school safety plans, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by the House Education Committee
Topics:K–12 educationPublic safety & emergenciesSchool safety
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 30, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2025
- Done: House committeeFebruary 27, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 18, 202588–9
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 24, 202549–0
- Done: To the GovernorApril 30, 2025
- Done: Signed into lawApril 30, 2025
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Starting in the 2025 school year, Iowa schools must create rules about when students can use personal electronics like cell phones and video games. The state will provide example rules for schools to follow, though schools can choose to make even stricter policies. Additionally, schools must update their emergency safety plans to make sure they work well with these new device rules.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours and school safety plans. Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2025, the bill requires school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt policies regarding student use of personal electronic devices during school hours. The bill establishes what the policies are to include. The bill requires the director of the department of education (DE) to develop and distribute to schools model policies that, if adopted, would satisfy the school’s responsibilities under these provisions. However, schools may adopt policies that are more stringent than these model policies. The bill defines “personal electronic device” to include electronic communication equipment, mobile phones, smart phones, video game devices, and portable media players. These provisions take effect upon enactment.30 to take into account the policies adopted pursuant to the bill’s provisions and to provide support and guidance to schools regarding how to revise high-quality emergency operations plans so that such plans are consistent with the bill’s provisions. The bill also requires school districts to revise the high-quality emergency operations plans on or before July 1, 2025, so that such plans are consistent with the bill’s provisions. These provisions take effect upon enactment.
Why it matters. School districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools must adopt policies regarding student use of personal electronic devices, such as cell phones and video game devices, during school hours. These schools must also update their emergency operations plans by July 1, 2025, to ensure they align with these new device policies. The department of education will provide model policies to help schools meet these requirements.2
Changed since by amendments S-3042, S-3041; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named January 30, 2025 (as HSB 106). On February 12, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
6 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 12, 2025 (4), February 5, 2025 (2) · on the Legislature’s site
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91st General Assembly