Read the full stored bill text
{As Amended by House Committee of the Whole}
Session of 2026
House Substitute for Substitute for SENATE BILL No.
281
By Committee on Education
2-12
AN ACT concerning education; relating to school districts and accredited
nonpublic schools; prohibiting students from using personal electronic
communication devices during school hours; prohibiting school
employees from communicating with students via social media
platforms for official school purposes and providing certain exceptions;
requiring the adoption of policies and procedures related thereto.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) Each board of education of a school district shall and
the governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or
secondary school may {shall} adopt policies and procedures to govern the
use of personal electronic communication devices by students during the
normal hours of the school day, including in the classroom, passing
periods and lunch time. Such policies and procedures shall:
(1) Prohibit students from using or accessing personal electronic
communication devices;
(2) require that all personal electronic communication devices be
turned off and securely locked or stowed away;
(3) set forth enforcement procedures and disciplinary actions for
violations of such policies and procedures;
(4) authorize any student to use a personal electronic communication
device only if the use is:
(A) (i) Required for the implementation of a student's individualized
education program or 504 plan; or
(ii) approved by an individual licensed by the state board of healing
arts to practice medicine and surgery or a mid-level practitioner as defined
in K.S.A. 65-1626, and amendments thereto, as a medical necessity to
support the health or well-being of the student; and
(B) the intervention of last resort such that there is no other
reasonable alternative option available for such student; and
(5) authorize a student to contact the student's parent or person acting
as parent through the use of a school telephone or other communications
device that is designated and made available by the school for such
purpose{; and
(6) authorize a student to access and use the student's personal
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
H Sub for Sub for SB 281—Am. by HCW 2
electronic communication device during a designated open-lunch
period when the student will leave the school grounds during such
designated open-lunch period}.
(b) The board of education of a school district and governing
authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school may
adopt policies and procedures that limit or prohibit use of personal
electronic communication devices by students during school-sponsored
activities or events that occur outside of the normal hours of the school
day.
(c) As used in this section,:
{(1) "Accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school"
means any nonpublic elementary or secondary school that is
accredited by the state board of education.
(2) }"Personal electronic communication device" means any wireless
electronic communication device that:
(1){(A)} Provides for voice, text or video communication between
two or more parties, including, but not limited to, a mobile or cellular
phone, tablet, computer, watch, wireless headphones or earbuds, text
messaging device or personal digital assistant; and
(2){(B)} is not owned or issued to students by the school district or
accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school.
Sec. 2. (a) Each board of education of a school district shall and the
governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary
school may {shall} adopt policies and procedures to prohibit each
employee of the school district or accredited nonpublic elementary or
secondary school from privately or directly communicating with any
student via a social media platform, texting or telephone communication,
except as otherwise provided in subsection (b).
(b) (1) The board of education of a school district or governing
authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school may
approve a social media platform to be used for official school purposes.
Any such social media platform shall be under the control of and
monitored by such school district or accredited nonpublic school.
(2) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to any employee
and student if such employee is the parent or person acting as parent of
such student.
(c) {Nothing in this section shall prohibit a board of education of
a school district or governing authority of an accredited nonpublic
elementary or secondary school from approving and using an email
platform or other similar communication platform to send
communications to and receive communications from students. Any
such email platform or other similar communication platform shall be
under the control of and monitored by such school district or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
H Sub for Sub for SB 281—Am. by HCW 3
accredited nonpublic school.
(d) }As used in this section:
(1) {"Accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school"
means the same as defined in section 1, and amendments thereto.
(2) }"Official school purposes" means the broadcasting or posting of
public, one-way communications that pertain to school functions, activities
or events. "Official school purposes" does not include private
communications, direct communications or two-way communications with
any student.
(2){(3)} "Social media platform" means any online website,
application, computer software or other internet medium that permits a
person to become a registered user, establish an account or create a profile
for the purpose of allowing the person to create, share and view user-
generated content through such account or profile. "Social media platform"
includes, but is not limited to, snapchat, instagram, facebook, X and tiktok.
Sec. 3. (a) On or before September 1, 2026, each board of education
of a school district shall and the governing authority of an accredited
nonpublic elementary or secondary school may {as defined in section 1,
and amendments thereto, shall} submit a certification that such board of
education or governing authority has adopted the policies and procedures
described in sections 1 and 2, and amendments thereto, to the state board
of education on a form and in the manner prescribed by the state board.
(b) The state board of education may establish rules and regulations
or other guidance as the board determines necessary to carry out the
provisions of this section.
Sec. 4. No board of education of a school district or governing
authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school that
has adopted the policies and procedures described in section 1, and
amendments thereto, shall be liable for any lost or damaged personal
electronic communication device that is carried onto school premises.
Sec. 5. The provisions of sections 1 through 4, and amendments
thereto, and any policies and procedures adopted thereunder, shall not
apply to any virtual school as defined in K.S.A. 72-3712, and amendments
thereto.
Sec. 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36