WashingtonSchool boards may limit students’ personal device use
Washington school boards may limit students’ personal device use, while the state education office must provide phone-use resources and report on school policies.
What it does
School district boards may adopt rules limiting students’ possession or use of personal phones and other mobile devices. School-issued devices are excluded from the mobile-device definition.
The state education office must provide online resources about responsible phone use and report on school policies, barriers, recommendations, and student input.
Argument forSchools could use the state's online research and teaching strategies to help students use phones responsibly.
Argument againstStudents could have less access to personal phones during class if their district adopts limits on possession or use.
More detail
School district boards may adopt policies that limit students’ possession or use of paging devices and mobile devices. Mobile devices include personal phones and other portable devices used for calls, messages, games, or videos; school-issued devices are excluded. When considering limits during instructional hours, boards are encouraged to review recommendations from the state education office. Boards are encouraged to review state recommendations when considering limits during instructional hours.
The state education office must provide online resources and submit a report to legislative committees. The online resources cover digital citizenship, media literacy, and internet safety, including research and strategies for teaching responsible mobile-device use. The report must include policies in Washington and other states, barriers schools face, evidence-based recommendations, and student input. The recommendations must address learning, social relationships, emotional well-being, and digital citizenship. The office must submit the report by December 15, 2027. The reporting section expires June 30, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 25Chapter 225, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 25Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 10President signed.Passed House
- Mar 9Passed final passage; yeas, 43; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#10). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Senate concurred in House amendments.
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 63; nays, 34; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#16). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 4Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
- Mar 3Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 23Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 23ED - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 14First reading, referred to Education.Minor
- Feb 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 37; nays, 12; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#33). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 111st substitute bill substituted (EDU 26).Major
- Feb 10Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 4Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 4Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 4EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 4Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 29Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Jan 17First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.Introduced
Education