AUSTIN — Cellphone use in Texas schools could soon be a thing of the past if House Bill 515 introduced by a Central Texas lawmaker gains enough votes in the 89th legislative session this spring.
If passed, the proposal by state Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, would take cellphones out of school classrooms from the first bell to the last beginning with the 202526 school year.
“We now have data that makes it very clear that a big cause of the mental-health crisis among our youth is caused by cellphone addiction and social-media addiction,” Troxclair said. “And when I was looking through the statistics they are just absolutely shocking.”
Critics say students need the phones to alert parents to emergencies or to make important calls, even during the school day.
One administrator who has mixed feelings about this bill is Thrall superintendent Tommy Hooker.
“As an educator I understood the need to have cell phones put away so they’re not a distraction in class. One of our teachers has students put their phones in a hanging pocket organizer as they come into the classroom,” Hooker said. “But, as a parent myself, I also understood where other parents are coming from when they say they want their children to have phones with them as a safety measure.”
Many have cited pupil’s use of cellphones during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in May 2024 to keep parents and police apprised of the gunman’s actions.
Supporters of the ban, however, argue social media accessed by phones has a harmful impact. They cite these statistics: teen suicide is up 300%, self-harm among girls is up 250% and anxiety and depression rates are skyrocketing as well.
“To me, this is common sense; not only as a mom, but also as a lawmaker (during a legislative session) on track to appropriate about $100 billion to public schools this session,” Troxclair said.
Many districts around the state already have cellphone restrictions in place.
However, the enforcement of cellphone bans and even punishment fall on educators, a process that can be spotty at best, supporters said.
A statute banning cellphones in schools would no longer rely on teachers’ discretion, instead making it state law.
“The burden of enforcement has been left up to teachers and (that) makes their job nearly impossible,” Troxclair said. “It’s common sense that our classrooms should be for learning and not for social media. And while most of our school districts do already have some kind of policy on paper, that cellphone shouldn’t be out during classroom time.”
The bill stipulates cellphones will be put away from the morning commencement bell to the afternoon dismissal bell in some kind of lockable device — whether in individual sealable pouches currently used in some concert settings or collected by school officials and then returned at day’s end.
“It’s really a bell-to-bell way ... for these kids to focus on not just math, science, reading and writing, but also the critical interpersonal skills that they will need to succeed in the real world,” the lawmaker said.
The measure, she said, has “growing bipartisan support as well as overwhelming approval from teachers, administrators, parents and yes, even students.”
Troxclair cited more than a dozen school districts that have implemented similar policies, including the Killeen Independent School District, which invested in lockable neoprene pouches that keep the phones out of use, but are carried in students’ book bags the entire day.
“The results we’ve seen have been just absolutely amazing,” she added.
The benefits are many, the former Austin councilwoman added.
“We’re seeing less bullying, less cheating, more educational time, higher teacher satisfaction and even satisfied students and parents who, initially, were unsure about this change and a separation from a device that we’re all addicted to,” she said.
Troxclair added, “Ultimately, after about six weeks or so, even they come around to realizing that it is possible for kids to be in school for the day without their cellphone.”
The bill, she said, is also supported by law-enforcement agencies because there are so many false threats and misinformation spread by cellphone use causing confusion on campus.
“I think even people who are initially opposed come around pretty quickly,” she said. “So I’m hoping that’s the case and that it continues.”
The 89th legislative session ends June 2.
