Students

Plain English Breakdown

The exact consequences for breaking device usage rules are not specified in the official source material.

Tennessee Law on School Wireless Communication Devices

This law requires Tennessee schools to create rules about when students can use phones, tablets, laptops, and other wireless devices during class time.

What This Bill Does

• Schools must make a rule that stops students from using wireless communication devices during class unless it's an emergency or for health reasons.
• Teachers can let students use these devices if they are needed for learning activities in the classroom.
• The school must tell parents how to get information about emergencies even when phones and other devices are not allowed in school.
• Schools need to put their rules on their websites so everyone can see them.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students who attend public schools in Tennessee
• Teachers and staff at these schools
• Parents or guardians of students

Terms To Know

Wireless communication device

A portable electronic device that can send messages, make calls, or connect to the internet.

Individualized education program (IEP)

A plan designed for students with disabilities to help them learn and grow in school.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify what happens if a student breaks the rules about using devices.
• It is unclear how schools will enforce these new policies.
• This act takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter.

Official Summary Text

DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND CODES OF CONDUCT

Present law requi
res 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 discipline policy or code of conduct adopted by a local
b
oard 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 to 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 noncomplian
t
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 requires each local board o
f 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.



Establishes a process by which parents or guardians of students will be contacted in the event of an emergency or possible emergency occurring at the school at which the parent's student is enrolled to ensure that the absence of, or restricted access to, wireless communication devices during the school day does not prevent parents from receiving notice of an emergency or possible emergency.

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

DEFINITION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE

As used in this 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.

ON MARCH 3, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 932, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 revises the pr
ovision that requires the wireless communication device policy to permit a student to use a wireless communication device during instructional time if the student's use of the device is included in the student's individualized education program (IEP) or a
c
tive 504 plan to also include a situation where the device is included in the student's individual learning plan.

ON MARCH 6, 2025, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 932 FOR SENATE BILL 897, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 932, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 permits
a student to use a wireless communication device during instructional time if
t
he wireless communication device is being used by a student with a disability for the operation of assistive technology to increase, maintain, or improve th
e student's functional capabilities
.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 932
By Alexander

SENATE BILL 897
By Haile

SB0897
002917
- 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 6, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "wireless communication device" 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:
(1) Cellular telephones;
(2) Tablet computers;
(3) Laptop computers; and
(4) Gaming devices.
(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;
(3) Permits a student to use a wireless communication device in the
event of an emergency or to manage the student's health;

- 2 - 002917

(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); and
(5) Establishes a process by which parents or guardians of students will
be contacted in the event of an emergency or possible emergency occurring at
the school at which the parent's student is enrolled to ensure that the absence of,
or restricted access to, wireless communication devices during the school day
does not prevent parents from receiving notice of an emergency or possible
emergency.
(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.