Following the signing of House Bill 1481 by Governor Abbott on June 20, 2025, effective for the 2025-26 school year, VISD has established a new policy regarding student personal communication devices during the school day.
House Bill 1481 requires all public school and open‑enrollment charter school boards to adopt written policies prohibiting students from using personal communication devices while on campus during the school day.
This legislation aims to:
Reduce classroom distractions and enhance student focus.
Improve learning environments and support mental well‑being among students.
Under HB 1481 “personal communication device” means any electronic device capable of telecommunication or digital communication, including but not limited to:
Cell phones (smartphones, flip phones)
Tablets
Smartwatches
Radios or paging devices
Any other device that can send or receive data
Importantly, the law does not apply to any electronic device issued by the school for instructional use, such as student Chromebooks.
District-wide Expectation: “Off and Away”
VISD will require all personal communication devices to be powered off and stored securely out of sight for the entirety of the school day. This includes class time, passing periods, lunch, and before/after school while on campus during school hours.
The proposed cell phone policy will be presented to the VISD Board of Trustees for approval at the Special Called Board Meeting on August 7. Once approved, the policy will be shared widely across district and campus platforms and communicated directly to VISD students and parents/guardians.
We encourage parents and students to discuss this new law ahead of the 2025–26 school year to ensure smooth compliance and understanding. Our shared priority is to foster a distraction‑free learning environment in support of academic growth and student well‑being.