Legislation - SB0928

Title: County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)
Sponsored by: Senators Harris, Charles, A. Washington, Carozza, Attar, Benson, Brooks, Hester, Kagan, West, Ferguson, Jennings, Jackson, Augustine, Love, Ready, and Salling
Status: In the House - Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note

Synopsis

Requiring each county board of education to develop and implement, not later than the 2027-2028 school year, a policy prohibiting the use of certain electronic communication devices by a student during the academic school day; and prohibiting the policy from restricting the use of an electronic communication device for purposes documented in a student's individual education program, to address a documented health issue, to access language translation tools under certain circumstances, or to meet approved caregiving duties; etc.

Committees

Original:: Education, Energy, and the Environment Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Ways and Means

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Cross-filed with: HB0525

Introduced in a prior session as: SB0368 Session: 2025 Regular Session

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): July 1, 2026

History

Legislation History
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/06/2026 Legislative Date 2/06/2026 Action First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/10/2026 Legislative Date 2/10/2026 Action Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act) Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/19/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {413529/1 Proceedings 42 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Motion Laid Over (Senator West) Adopted Proceedings 42 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {413529/1 Adopted Proceedings 42AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Floor Amendment {433025/1 (Senator West) Adopted Proceedings 42AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 42AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act) Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/05/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (40-0) Proceedings 44 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/21/2026 Legislative Date 3/09/2026 Action Referred Ways and Means Proceedings 46 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/23/2026 Action Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
Senate	2/06/2026	2/06/2026	First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Senate	2/10/2026	2/10/2026	Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
			Text - First - County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)
			Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment	Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/19/2026	3/19/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
Senate	3/19/2026	3/03/2026	Favorable with Amendments {413529/1	42 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/19/2026	3/03/2026	Motion Laid Over (Senator West) Adopted	42 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/19/2026	3/03/2026	Favorable with Amendments {413529/1 Adopted	42AClick to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/19/2026	3/03/2026	Floor Amendment {433025/1 (Senator West) Adopted	42AClick to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/19/2026	3/03/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	42AClick to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)
Senate	3/20/2026	3/05/2026	Third Reading Passed (40-0)	44 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/21/2026	3/09/2026	Referred Ways and Means	46 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/23/2026	3/23/2026	Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.

File Code

Subjects

Statutes