School Cell Phone Policies (S 771A, H 5598)

  • Status: Signed into Law
  • Position: Amend
  • Bill Number: S 771, H 5598
  • Session: 2025
  • Latest Update: April 4, 2025
2025 Legislative Session – Students' Rights

As technology has evolved and advanced, so has the amount of data and information stored on a student's cell phone. With that in mind, we argued legislation should be amended that would require every public school district in Rhode Island to adopt a policy regarding the use of personal electronic devices on school grounds, including a prohibition on physical access to the device during the day. We argued that this legislation should be amended to include privacy protections prohibiting searches of those cell phones -- or any other electronic devices covered by the bill -- by school officials if the devices are kept in the school's possession during the day and not with the student in a locked pouch or kept in their locker.

Sponsors:
Senator Murray, Representative Casimiro
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