requiring school districts and chartered public schools to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education.
SB 206 requires all public school districts and chartered public schools in New Hampshire to create and implement policies banning student use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during instructional hours - from the first bell until the dismissal bell. The policy must include approved exceptions for medical needs (like insulin pumps), disabilities (per IEPs or 504 plans), or language support programs for multilingual students. Schools must develop these policies with input from parents and teachers and review them annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Failed
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 23, 2025
Signed Jun 19, 2025
Floor votes · House Jun 5, 2025
How they voted
95–101
Failed · 25 other
Total votes 221
Jun 5, 2025
D
Democratic106
84% Yea
I
Independent2
50% Nay
R
Republican113
84% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
11
Committee
10
Amendments
3
Jun 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 17
lower
Jun 19, 2025
Signed into law
Conference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 16
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/19/2025, 02:00 pm, Room 100, SH
upper
Jun 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/17/2025, 02:00 pm, Room 100, SH
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
==CANCELLED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/16/2025, 10:30 am, Room 100, SH
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced
Sen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
upper
Jun 5, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (95-101-25)
house
Jun 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-2249h: MA DV 314-42 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 113
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Introduced
Amendment # 2025-2603h: AF RC 164-192 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 111
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Introduced
Amendment # 2025-2249h (NT): AA DV 345-9 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 111
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2603h
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2249h (NT) 05/20/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 27 P. 18
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 11 P. 112
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0742s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2025-0742s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0742s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 3
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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