STATE BILLMD HB 525PASSED

County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

Requiring each county board of education to develop and implement, by 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 of accommodations related to a disability, including for any purpose in a student's individual education program, to address a documented health issue, to access language translation tools, or to meet caregiving responsibilities.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: May 26, 2026; 170 days ago
Current chamber: House of Delegates
Session: 2026 Regular Session

MD HB 525 · PassedMay 26

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Bill details

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 596 · May 26, 2026

Bill history

Newest first.

May 26, 2026Approved by the Governor - Chapter 596House

Apr 11, 2026Passed EnrolledHouse

Apr 11, 2026Third Reading Passed (130-1)House

Apr 11, 2026House Concurs Senate AmendmentsHouse

Apr 9, 2026Third Reading Passed (41-0)Senate

Apr 8, 2026Second Reading Passed with AmendmentsSenate

Apr 8, 2026Favorable with Amendments {403029/1 AdoptedSenate

Apr 8, 2026Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSenate

Show 7 earlier actions

Mar 23, 2026Referred Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSenate

Mar 23, 2026Third Reading Passed (135-1)House

Mar 21, 2026Second Reading Passed with AmendmentsHouse

Mar 21, 2026Favorable with Amendments {293220/1 AdoptedHouse

Mar 21, 2026Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and MeansHouse

Feb 4, 2026Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.House

Jan 27, 2026First Reading Ways and MeansHouse

Recorded votes

Third Reading PassedMar 23, 2026 · House · 135 yea · 1 nayPassed

Third Reading PassedApr 9, 2026 · Senate · 41 yea · 0 nayPassed

Third Reading PassedApr 11, 2026 · House · 130 yea · 1 nayPassed

Subjects

Primary and Secondary Education
Awareness and Outreach
Counties
Data
Digital Images
Discipline
Education, Boards of
Education, State Department of
Electronic Communication
Electronic Government
Emergencies
Evidence
Individualized Education and 504 Plans
Information Technology
internet
Language
Medical Conditions
Mobile Devices
Parents and Guardians
Public Information
Recordings
Reports
School Administration
Social Media
Storage
Students
Surveys and Polls
Teachers
Telecommunications
Telephones
Time
Video
Electronic Documents
Publications
Civil Rights and Social Equity
Demographics
Education
Rules and Regulations

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County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

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County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Subjects

Read the bill at the source

Start finding government buyers today.It's free.

Start finding government buyers today.
It's free.