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.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
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,
Page 3, Line 8such as a laptop or tablet, made available to a student by the school or the school district.
Page 3, Line 9(b) "Policy" means the policy concerning student
Page 3, Line 10communication device possession and use during the school day
Page 3, Line 11adopted and implemented pursuant to subsection(3)(a)of this section.
Page 3, Line 12(c) "School day" means the time period when a public
Page 3, Line 13school provides educational services to students who are enrolled in a public school.
Page 3, Line 14(2) On or before January 5, 2026, the department of
Page 3, Line 15education shall make publicly available a collection of
Page 3, Line 16accessible resources and research that may assist in the development of policies pursuant to this section.
Page 3, Line 17(3) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the Colorado school for
Page 3, Line 18the deaf and the blind, and each institute charter school,
Page 3, Line 19district charter school, and local board of education for its
Page 3, Line 20schools that are not district charter schools shall adopt and
Page 4, Line 1implement a policy concerning student communication device
Page 4, Line 2possession and use during the school day. At a minimum, the policy must describe:
Page 4, Line 3(I) The prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any,
Page 4, Line 4regarding student communication device possession during the school day; and
Page 4, Line 5(II) The prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any, of student communication device use during the school day.
Page 4, Line 6(b) Notwithstanding subsection(3)(a)of this section, the
Page 4, Line 7policy must not prohibit a student from possessing and using a
Page 4, Line 8communication device during the school day if the possession
Page 4, Line 9and use are necessary as an effective communication
Page 4, Line 10accommodation pursuant to the federal "Americans with
Page 4, Line 11Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq.; to comply
Page 4, Line 12with the student's individualized education program, as defined
Page 4, Line 13in section 22-20-103, or the student's section 504 plan, as defined
Page 4, Line 14in section 22-20-123; or to monitor or address the student's medical condition.
Page 4, Line 15(4) In developing the policy, the Colorado school for the
Page 4, Line 16deaf and the blind, charter school, or local board of education may:
Page 4, Line 17(a) Limit student communication device possession and use during the school day;
Page 4, Line 18(b) Consider student communication device possession and use for prevention or response to an emergency;
Page 4, Line 19(c) Consider prohibitions and exceptions for student
Page 4, Line 20communication device possession and use that are specific to
Page 5, Line 1elementary school students, middle school students, and high
Page 5, Line 2school students and that are appropriate based on the ages and
Page 5, Line 3developmental maturity of students who attend each type of school;
Page 5, Line 4(d) Consider exceptions that allow student
Page 5, Line 5communication device possession and use during the school day for instructional purposes or to make a safe2tell report;
Page 5, Line 6(e) Consider comments from the public and from staff;
Page 5, Line 7(f) Consider training necessary for staff who are required
Page 5, Line 8to understand and enforce the policy and staff's capacity to
Page 5, Line 9complete the training or any new requirements associated with the policy;
Page 5, Line 10(g) Consider consulting with staff who are or a local
Page 5, Line 11education association that is required to understand and enforce the policy prior to its implementation;
Page 5, Line 12(h) Consider unintended burdens, including additional costs associated with the policy;
Page 5, Line 13(i) Consider any available evidence-based resources and
Page 5, Line 14research concerning student communication device possession and use during the school day; and
Page 5, Line 15(j) Consider student communication device possession and
Page 5, Line 16use on and off of school grounds during the school day,
Page 5, Line 17including applicability for an online school, online program, or online course.
Page 5, Line 18(5) On or before July 1, 2026, the Colorado school for the
Page 5, Line 19deaf and the blind, and each charter school and local board of
Page 5, Line 20education shall post its policy on its website.
Page 6, Line 1(6) This section does not apply to the Colorado school for
Page 6, Line 2the deaf and the blind, a charter school, or a local board of
Page 6, Line 3education if the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind, the
Page 6, Line 4charter school, or the local board of education adopts and
Page 6, Line 5implements a policy regarding the possession and use of
Page 6, Line 6communication devices or cell phones on or before August 31, 2025.
Page 6, Line 7SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 6, Line 8takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 6, Line 9ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 6, Line 10that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 6, Line 11of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 6, Line 12act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 6, Line 13effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 6, Line 14November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.