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,
Page 3, Line 8such as a laptop or tablet, made available to a student by the public 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 (2)(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) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, each institute charter
Page 3, Line 15school, district charter school, and local board of education
Page 3, Line 16for its schools that are not district charter schools shall
Page 3, Line 17adopt and implement a policy concerning student communication
Page 3, Line 18device possession and use during the school day. At a minimum, the policy must describe:
Page 3, Line 19(I) The prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any,
Page 3, Line 20regarding student communication device possession during the school day; and
Page 4, Line 1(II) The prohibitions, if any, and exceptions, if any, of student communication device use during the school day.
Page 4, Line 2(b) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(a) of this section, the
Page 4, Line 3policy must not prohibit a student from possessing and using a
Page 4, Line 4communication device during the school day if the possession
Page 4, Line 5and use are necessary as an effective communication
Page 4, Line 6accommodation pursuant to the federal "Americans with
Page 4, Line 7Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq.; to comply
Page 4, Line 8with the student's individualized education program, as defined
Page 4, Line 9in section 22-20-103, or the student's section 504 plan, as defined
Page 4, Line 10in section 22-20-123; or to monitor or address the student's medical condition.
Page 4, Line 11(3) In developing the policy, the charter school or local board of education may:
Page 4, Line 12(a) Limit student communication device possession and use during the school day;
Page 4, Line 13(b) Consider student communication device possession and use for prevention or response to an emergency;
Page 4, Line 14(c) Consider prohibitions and exceptions for student
Page 4, Line 15communication device possession and use that are specific to
Page 4, Line 16elementary school students, middle school students, and high
Page 4, Line 17school students and that are appropriate based on the ages and
Page 4, Line 18developmental maturity of students who attend each type of school;
Page 4, Line 19(d) Consider exceptions that allow student
Page 4, Line 20communication device possession and use during the school day for instructional purposes or to make a safe2tell report;
Page 5, Line 1(e) Consider comments from the public and from staff;
Page 5, Line 2(f) Consider training necessary for staff who are required
Page 5, Line 3to understand and enforce the policy and staff's capacity to
Page 5, Line 4complete the training or any new requirements associated with the policy;
Page 5, Line 5(g) Consider consulting with staff who are or a local
Page 5, Line 6education association that is required to understand and enforce the policy prior to its implementation; and
Page 5, Line 7(h) Consider unintended burdens, including additional costs associated with the policy.
Page 5, Line 8(4) On or before July 1, 2026, each charter school and local board of education shall post its policy on its website.
Page 5, Line 9(5) This section does not apply to a charter school or
Page 5, Line 10local board of education if the charter school or local board
Page 5, Line 11of education adopts and implements a policy regarding the
Page 5, Line 12possession and use of communication devices or cell phones on or before August 31, 2025.
Page 5, Line 13SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 5, Line 14takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 5, Line 15ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 5, Line 16that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 5, Line 17of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 18act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 19effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 20November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
Page 5, Line 21official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.