HB 147 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

County Boards of Education - Student Technology Use Policy - Requirements

HB 147 requires Maryland county school boards to create policies banning elementary and middle school students from using cell phones or personal devices (like tablets or laptops) during school hours, unless specific exceptions apply. The policy must allow device use for students with documented special education needs (IEP/504 plans), health monitoring, or when teachers direct it for educational purposes. It does not apply to counties already having such policies in place. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all public elementary and middle schools in Maryland not covered by existing rules.

Issues: ✗ Education ✗ Technology

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Oct 14, 2024 Last action Apr 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - County Boards of Education - Elementary and Middle Schools - Student Technology Use Policy → Third - County Boards of Education - Student Technology Use Policy - Requirements · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand its scope from only prohibiting cellular phones to also covering personal electronic devices like tablets, laptops, and smartwatches. The amendments clarify that the policy must limit smartphone and connected device use during instructional time, add smartglasses to the definition of personal electronic devices, and require the policy to be published on county board websites and in student handbooks.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly covers all personal electronic devices (tablets, laptops, smartwatches, smartglasses) rather than just cellular phones, and applies more clearly to instructional time within school hours.

DEFINITION

Added 'smartglasses' to the definition of personal electronic devices and clarified the scope to include all portable electronic devices for individual use.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the policy requirement to specifically limit smartphone and device-connected-to-smartphone use during instructional time.

Added requirement that the adopted policy must be published on each county board's website and in each public school student handbook.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the existing policy exemption clause to clarify it applies to policies limiting smartphone and connected device use during instructional time.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report and house action status indicating the bill was favorably amended and adopted.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Ebersole, Vogel and Hornberger)

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 4/7 (Senator Hershey) Adopted

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-0)

senate

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 3, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (138-0-1)

house of delegates

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

Oct 14, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors