A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning requiring the adoption of a policy regarding
Page 1, Line 102student communication devices in schools.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill requires, on or before July 1, 2026, each institute charter school, district charter school, and a local board of education for its schools that are not district charter schools to adopt and implement a policy concerning student communication device possession and use during the school day. At a minimum, the policy must describe the prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any, regarding student communication device possession and use during the school day.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) Research demonstrates that student cell phone use during the
Page 2, Line 4school day can create significant distractions that result in higher rates of
Page 2, Line 5cyberbullying and negative effects on student academic performance and mental health;
Page 2, Line 6(b) Nearly two-thirds of teenagers in the United States report
Page 2, Line 7using social media every day, and one-third of teenagers report using social media "almost constantly";
Page 2, Line 8(c) A longitudinal cohort study of American adolescents found
Page 2, Line 9that adolescents who spent more than 3 hours per day on social media had
Page 2, Line 10double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of anxiety and depression; and
Page 2, Line 11(d) A majority of parents and legal guardians of adolescents report
Page 2, Line 12that they are worried that their child's use of social media could lead to
Page 2, Line 13poor mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and low
Page 2, Line 14self-esteem; harassment or bullying; social and peer pressure; and exposure to explicit content.
Page 2, Line 15(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares it necessary for each
Page 2, Line 16charter school and local board of education to adopt and implement a
Page 2, Line 17policy concerning student communication device possession and use during the school day for the health, safety, and welfare of students.
Page 2, Line 18SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-148 as
Page 2, Line 19follows:
Page 3, Line 122-1-148. Policy for student possession and use of
Page 3, Line 2communication devices - exemption - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 3(a) (I) "Communication device" means a device that is
Page 3, Line 4capable of making and receiving calls, sending and receiving text messages, or accessing the internet.
Page 3, Line 5(II) "Communication device" includes a cell phone or
Page 3, Line 6watch with the capabilities described in subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section.
Page 3, Line 7(III) "Communication device" does not include a device, such as a laptop or tablet:
Page 3, Line 8(A) Made available to a student by the school or the school district; or
Page 3, Line 9(B) Used by the student as required by the school or the school district.
Page 3, Line 10(b) "Policy" means the policy concerning student
Page 3, Line 11communication device possession and use during the school day
Page 3, Line 12adopted and implemented pursuant to subsection(3)(a)of this section.
Page 3, Line 13(c) "School day" means the time period when a public
Page 3, Line 14school provides educational services to students who are enrolled in a public school.
Page 3, Line 15(2) On or before January 5, 2026, the department of
Page 3, Line 16education shall make publicly available a collection of
Page 3, Line 17accessible resources and research that may assist in the development of policies pursuant to this section.
Page 3, Line 18(3) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the Colorado school for
Page 4, Line 1the deaf and the blind, and each institute charter school,
Page 4, Line 2district charter school, and local board of education for its
Page 4, Line 3schools that are not district charter schools shall adopt and
Page 4, Line 4implement a policy concerning student communication device
Page 4, Line 5possession and use during the school day. At a minimum, the policy must describe:
Page 4, Line 6(I) The prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any,
Page 4, Line 7regarding student communication device possession during the school day; and
Page 4, Line 8(II) The prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any, of student communication device use during the school day.
Page 4, Line 9(b) Notwithstanding subsection(3)(a)of this section, the
Page 4, Line 10policy must not prohibit a student from possessing and using a
Page 4, Line 11communication device during the school day if the possession
Page 4, Line 12and use are necessary as an effective communication
Page 4, Line 13accommodation pursuant to the federal "Americans with
Page 4, Line 14Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq.; to comply
Page 4, Line 15with the student's individualized education program, as defined
Page 4, Line 16in section 22-20-103, or the student's section 504 plan, as defined
Page 4, Line 17in section 22-20-123; or to monitor or address the student's medical condition.
Page 4, Line 18(4) In developing the policy, the Colorado school for the
Page 4, Line 19deaf and the blind, charter school, or local board of education may:
Page 4, Line 20(a) Limit student communication device possession and use during the school day;
Page 4, Line 21(b) Consider student communication device possession and use for prevention or response to an emergency;
Page 5, Line 1(c) Consider prohibitions and exceptions for student
Page 5, Line 2communication device possession and use that are specific to
Page 5, Line 3elementary school students, middle school students, and high
Page 5, Line 4school students and that are appropriate based on the ages and
Page 5, Line 5developmental maturity of students who attend each type of school;
Page 5, Line 6(d) Consider exceptions that allow student
Page 5, Line 7communication device possession and use during the school day for instructional purposes or to make a safe2tell report;
Page 5, Line 8(e) Consider comments from the public and from staff;
Page 5, Line 9(f) Consider training necessary for staff who are required
Page 5, Line 10to understand and enforce the policy and staff's capacity to
Page 5, Line 11complete the training or any new requirements associated with the policy;
Page 5, Line 12(g) Consider consulting with staff who are or a local
Page 5, Line 13education association that is required to understand and enforce the policy prior to its implementation;
Page 5, Line 14(h) Consider unintended burdens, including additional costs associated with the policy;
Page 5, Line 15(i) Consider any available evidence-based resources and
Page 5, Line 16research concerning student communication device possession and use during the school day;
Page 5, Line 17(j) Consider student communication device possession and
Page 5, Line 18use on and off of school grounds during the school day,
Page 5, Line 19including applicability for an online school, online program, or
Page 5, Line 20onlinecourse; and
Page 6, Line 1(k) Consider issues related to media literacy and social and emotional learning.
Page 6, Line 2(5) On or before July 1, 2026, the Colorado school for the
Page 6, Line 3deaf and the blind, and each charter school and local board of education shall post its policy on its website.
Page 6, Line 4(6) This section does not apply to the Colorado school for
Page 6, Line 5the deaf and the blind, a charter school, or a local board of
Page 6, Line 6education if the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind, the
Page 6, Line 7charter school, or the local board of education adopts and
Page 6, Line 8implements a policy regarding the possession and use of
Page 6, Line 9communication devices or cell phones on or before August 31, 2025.
Page 6, Line 10SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 6, Line 11takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 6, Line 12ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 6, Line 13that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 6, Line 14of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 6, Line 15act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 6, Line 16effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 6, Line 17November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.