Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by the Senate Education Committee
Topics:K–12 educationKids online & social mediaSchool safety
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 28, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 28, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 18, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 24, 202549–0
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 18, 202588–9
- Done: To the GovernorApril 30, 2025
- Done: Signed into lawApril 30, 2025
HF 782 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 782, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 782 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight. The bill requires that instruction related to the effects of social media be incorporated into the health curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades six through eight in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The bill requires the director of the department of education (DE) to consult with the department of health and human services regarding the effects of social media and provide professional development support to teachers to assist such teachers in providing such instruction to students.
Read the full explanation
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 DE to, on or before May 1, 2025, 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.3.16.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill. This provision takes effect upon enactment.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendments S-3042, S-3041; see Amendments. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
Senate subcommittee
Named January 28, 2025 (as SSB 1065). On February 6, 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
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§279.87
Amends§256.11§256.9§256E.7§256F.4
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
16 for · 3 against · 18 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
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91st General Assembly
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