school policies; internet; wireless devices

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how schools should handle emergencies outside regular school hours or what changes will be made to social media use policies for educational purposes.

School Policies; Internet and Wireless Devices

This bill changes Arizona's rules to allow students to use wireless devices during emergencies, even if they happen outside of regular school hours.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the rule that allows students to use wireless communication devices during an emergency. Now it says they can use these devices in case of an emergency, not just during one.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students who attend public or charter schools in Arizona
• Teachers and parents of these students

Terms To Know

Wireless communication devices

Personal phones, tablets, or other gadgets that connect to the internet without wires.

Social media platform

Websites and apps where people can share information and interact with each other online.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how schools should handle emergencies that happen outside of regular school hours.
• It is unclear what specific changes will be made to the policies regarding social media use for educational purposes.

Official Summary Text

SB1811 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1811

school policies;
internet; wireless devices

Purpose

Allows a student
to use a wireless communication device during the school day when the device is
used in the case of, rather than during, an emergency.

Background

Each school
district governing board and charter school governing body must prescribe and
enforce policies and procedures that govern student access to the internet that
is provided by the school and that limit students' use of wireless
communication devices during the school day. The policies and procedures
adopted must allow students to use wireless communication devices when the use
is: 1) for educational purposes as directed by the student's teacher; 2) during
an emergency; and 3) necessary due to a student's medical condition.
Additionally, the adopted policies must include procedures allowing for a
student to contact the student's parent and the parent to contact the student
during the school day (
A.R.S.
� 15-120.05
).

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Modifies the list of qualifying conditions which permit a student to use
a wireless communication device during the school day by allowing a student to
use a wireless communication device in the case of, rather than during, an
emergency.

2.

Makes technical changes.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 12, 2026

LMM/KS/ci

Current Bill Text

SB1811 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

school policies;
internet; wireless devices

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1811

AN
ACT

amending section 15-120.05, Arizona
Revised Statutes; RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-120.05, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
15-120.05.

Student access to internet; student use of wireless communication
devices; policies and procedures; annual notice; definitions

A. Each school district governing board and charter
school governing body shall prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that
both:

1. Govern student access to the internet as provided
by the school, including policies that restrict student access to social media
platforms.� The policies and procedures adopted pursuant to this paragraph
shall

must
allow teachers to give students
access to social media platforms to the extent necessary for educational
purposes.

2. Limit the use of wireless communication devices
by students during the school day. The policies and procedures
adopted pursuant to this paragraph
shall

must

do all of the following:

(a) Allow students to use wireless communication
devices if any of the following applies:

(i) For educational purposes, as directed by the
student's teacher.

(ii)
During

In
the case of
an emergency.

(iii) The student needs the student's wireless
communication device because the student has a medical condition.

(b) Include procedures for a student's parent to
contact the student during the school day.

(c) Include procedures for a student to contact the
student's parent during the school day.

B. At the beginning of each school year, the school
district shall provide to parents, teachers and students a copy of the policies
adopted pursuant to subsection A of this section and notify the parents,
teachers and students of any changes to the policy.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "School day" means periods of time when
students are at school, including meals, passing periods and recess.

2. "Social media platform" means a
website, computer application or other digital platform that is used for social
networking and creating or exchanging virtual content.

3. "Wireless communication devices"
includes personal devices and devices that are provided by the school.
END_STATUTE