Texas House Bill 1481 Restricts Students' Use of Personal Communication Devices During School Day

A new state law, Texas House Bill 1481, will restrict students’ use of personal communication devices during the school day on school property beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. The purpose of this law is to reduce distractions, improve student focus and socialization, lower cyberbullying risks, and support student mental health.

Muenster ISD is currently awaiting further guidance from the Texas Education Agency regarding expectations and enforcement procedures. The law states that school districts may prohibit students from bringing communication devices on campus or may designate device storage. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, radio devices, paging devices, or any other electronic devices capable of telecommunication or digital communication. It also states that school districts must establish consequences for violations of the law, which may include confiscation of the device. Muenster ISD is working to ensure that our 2025–2026 student use of personal communication devices policy aligns with the law. We will share all policy updates as soon as they are available.

Parents can help now by talking with their child about these upcoming changes. Please encourage responsibility and respect for school policies and state laws. Plan for communication by making sure that emergency contact numbers are up to date with school campuses and that your child has important phone numbers on hand. Parents are always welcome to contact campus offices if important student communication is needed.

Thank you for working with us to provide the best possible learning environment for the students of Muenster ISD!

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