Texas School Districts: Cell Phone Policy & Enforcement
Texas law (HB 1481, Education Code § 37.082) requires every school district and open-enrollment charter school to prohibit student use of phones, smartwatches and other personal communication devices on school property for the whole school day. Policies were due Sept. 18, 2025.
- State rule
- Law in effectBell-to-bell law
- Law
- HB 1481 (2025)
- When
- Since June 20, 2025
Texas district policy guides
- Houston Independent School DistrictHouston, Harris County · about 184,000 students
- Dallas Independent School DistrictDallas, Dallas County · about 139,000 studentsPolicy verified
- Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School DistrictCypress, Harris County · about 117,000 students
- Northside Independent School DistrictSan Antonio, Bexar County · about 102,000 students
- Fort Bend Independent School DistrictSugar Land, Fort Bend County · about 78,000 studentsPolicy verified
- Austin Independent School DistrictAustin, Travis County · about 73,000 students
- Fort Worth Independent School DistrictFort Worth, Tarrant County · about 72,000 studentsPolicy verified