Local Education Agencies

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn and is no longer active, which affects its applicability.

School Rules for Cell Phones

This bill requires Tennessee's local education boards and charter schools to create rules about when students can use cell phones during class time, allowing exceptions for emergencies, health reasons, or educational purposes.

What This Bill Does

• Requires each local board of education and public charter school governing body to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of wireless communication devices by students during instructional time, except in certain circumstances.
• Allows teachers to take away a student's wireless communication device if they are not following the rules set by their local education agency or charter school.
• Permits exceptions for emergencies, managing health conditions, and cases where using a device is part of an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local boards of education in Tennessee
• Public charter schools in Tennessee
• Students attending public schools in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Wireless Communication Device

A portable device that can send or receive messages, such as a cell phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or gaming device.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A plan designed to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was withdrawn and is no longer active.
• It does not specify what happens if a student uses their phone against the rules outside of emergencies or health reasons.

Official Summary Text

DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND CODES

Present law requires each local board of education and charter school governing body to adopt a discipline policy to apply to the students in each school operated by the LEA or charter school governing body. Such a discipli
ne policy or code of conduct adopted by a local board of education or charter school governing body may authorize a teacher to withhold a student's phone from the student for the duration of the instructional time if the student's phone is a distraction t
o
the class or student. For the 2025-2026 school year, and each school year thereafter, this bill revises the prior provision by, instead, authorizing a teacher to withhold a student's wireless communication device from the student for the duration of the

instructional time if the student is noncompliant with the LEA's or public charter school's wireless communication device policy adopted pursuant to this bill.

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICIES

For the 2025-2026 school year, and each school year
thereafter, this bill also requires each local board of education and each public charter school governing body to adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that
does all of the following
:



Except as provided in this bill, prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time


Authorizes a teacher to allow a student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes during instructional time


Permits a student to use a wireless communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage the student's health


Permits a student to use a wireless communication device during instructional time if the student's use of the wireless communication device is included in the student's individualized education program (IEP) or active 504 plan

This bill requires each LEA and public charter school to publish the wireless communication device policy established pursuant to this bill on its website.

DEFINITION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE

As used in t
his bill, a "wireless communication device" means a portable wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, tablet computers,
laptop computers, and gaming devices. However, the term does not include a portable wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties, if such capability is restricted by softwar
e.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 10
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 13
By Cepicky

HB0013
000036
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to communication devices at schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 2, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "wireless communication device":
(1) Means a portable wireless device that has the capability to provide
voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more parties,
including, but not limited to:
(A) Cellular telephones;
(B) Tablet computers;
(C) Laptop computers; and
(D) Gaming devices; and
(2) Does not include a portable wireless device that has the capability to
provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more
parties, if such capability is restricted by software.
(b) Each local board of education and each public charter school governing body
shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that:
(1) Except as provided in subdivisions (b)(2)-(4), prohibits a student from
using a wireless communication device during instructional time;
(2) Authorizes a teacher to allow a student to use a wireless
communication device for educational purposes during instructional time;

- 2 - 000036

(3) Permits a student to use a wireless communication device in the
event of an emergency or to manage the student's health; and
(4) Permits a student to use a wireless communication device during
instructional time if the student's use of the wireless communication device is
included in the student's:
(A) Individualized education program under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.); or
(B) Active 504 plan developed under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794).
(c) Each LEA and public charter school shall publish the wireless communication
device policy established pursuant to subsection (b) on its website.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-4002, is amended by deleting
subsection (h) and substituting:
(h) A discipline policy or code of conduct adopted by a local board of education
or public charter school governing body may authorize a teacher to withhold a student's
wireless communication device from the student for the duration of the instructional time
if the student is noncompliant with the LEA's or public charter school's wireless
communication device policy adopted pursuant to Section 1. As used in this subsection
(h), "wireless communication device" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter.