Tomball and Magnolia ISDs approved their cellphone policies for the 2025-26 school year, under the requirement of House Bill 1481, which mandates that districts adopt policies banning the use of personal communication devices, such as cellphones and smartwatches, during the school day by Sept. 1.

Breaking it down

TISD and MISD students are allowed to store their devices in a backpack, locker or another secure area during the school day. The districts defined the school day as the time from the first bell of the day to the last.

“What we're going to do with that is to say, ‘You can have your cellphone in your pocket. You can have it in your backpack, purse.’ ... We do not need to see it out,” Ben King, MISD’s assistant superintendent of administration, said at MISD’s regular July 14 board meeting.

The bill provides exceptions for students with medical needs or special education accommodations. Additionally, HB 1481 would not apply to devices supplied by school districts for academic purposes. Each district’s device policy must outline disciplinary measures for violations, according to the bill.
Key players


Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath urged state lawmakers to ban student cellphone use in public schools, citing concerns about the impact on student learning and mental health.

“If it were in my power, I would’ve already banned them in schools in the state,” Morath told state senators during a Sept. 18 hearing. “So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy going forward for our students and our teachers.”
Going forward

TISD officials said they want parents to know that they will adapt many of their communication practices—specifically for extracurricular activities—due to the policy change.

“We have received mixed feedback, many in support and many concerned. During the school day, we want students to be focused on instruction and learning, but are aware that parents want to be able to reach their child in the case of a school emergency,” TISD officials said in an email to Community Impact.


Ben Petty, executive director of secondary student services at MISD, said in emergency or urgent situations, parents and guardians should contact school offices, where staff will relay messages to students and allow students to contact parents, if needed. Students who violate the policy could face:
  • Parental notification
  • Phone confiscation
  • In or out of school suspension
“We hope that students are focused on learning rather than focused on their personal devices during the school day. We also hope that this will increase peer-to-peer positive interactions,” TISD officials said.