In June 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed House Bill 1481, banning cell phones in public K-12 classrooms. The law officially went into effect on September 1, shaping the 2025–26 school year as the first full term of statewide enforcement.
State officials and educators agree that it was effective during its first year of implementation, and Abbott believes further limiting screen time in public schools will help improve student learning.
Research shows excessive screen time harms kids by causing poor sleep, weight gain, attention struggles, and mental health issues like anxiety and sadness.
Citing studies showing decreased screen time leading to improved academic outcomes, Abbott wants legislators to limit the use of electronic devices like laptops and tablets in classrooms and to "emphasize" physical materials, including books, handwriting and "direct teacher instruction."
Tina Descovich of Moms for Liberty, an organization that has studied the real costs of "connected" classrooms, says some basic things need to be prioritized.
"In a public-school environment that's paid for with taxpayer money, parents are expecting their children to go to school and learn," she notes. "We prioritize books and handwriting. That's not to say we need to go backwards in any way, but we know that those things work in education, and it's important to do that, and we are grateful that Gov. Abbott recognizes that."
Other states like Iowa, Utah, and Alabama have passed laws or enacted executive measures to cap daily digital instruction, restrict one-device-per-student ratios in elementary grades, and prioritize traditional teacher-led learning.
In Texas, Abbott did not outline how the new screen limits would vary across grade levels or what the restrictions would entail. The proposal would have to be taken up by the Legislature when it convenes next year.
Descovich adds that it is important to point out that this is not a partisan issue. Even the teachers union, who is her organization's "sworn enemy on a lot of issues," agrees with them in this area.
"Moms that are Democrats, moms that are Republicans, and moms that aren't even politically involved are concerned about screen time and concerned about AI resources in classrooms," she says. "These are issues that we can come together on as parents."
