New Texas law bans personal devices in classrooms, HISD and Fort Bend ISD roll out enforcement plans with real consequences for students and parents.
HOUSTON — As students prepare to return to class, two of the largest school districts in the Houston area — Houston ISD and Fort Bend ISD — are rolling out new cell phone bans under a new state law that takes effect this school year.
The law, House Bill 1481, requires all Texas school districts to restrict students from using personal electronic devices during the school day. That includes cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and earbuds.
HISD’s enforcement plan
Houston ISD has detailed how it plans to handle violations:
- 1st offense: Device confiscated and returned to a parent after school
- 2nd offense: Device held until the next day
- 3rd offense: Device held for two school days
These policies will be in place across all HISD campuses as the school year begins.
Fort Bend ISD’s draft policy
Fort Bend ISD also shared details during a workshop meeting Monday night. While the full policy is still being finalized, this is the current plan:
- 1st & 2nd offenses: Device confiscated, returned at end of the day
- 3rd offense & beyond: Parent must retrieve the device and pay a fee to the school
The district has not yet confirmed what specific disciplinary actions will accompany repeat offenses.
“Tomorrow we will share the draft procedures with our principals and assistant principals,” a district official said. “Wednesday communications is scheduled to release to the public… families want to start to plan.”
The policy will take effect on the first day of school, and the finalized version will be shared with parents soon.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. According to the Texas Education Agency, students may still use personal devices if:
- There is a documented medical need signed by a physician
- Device use is required for health, safety, or emergency protocols
- Students are using district-issued tablets for educational purposes
Statewide impact
House Bill 1481 applies to all 1,200+ school districts in Texas, meaning districts across the state are drafting their own versions of the ban — many for the very first time.
KHOU 11 will continue to monitor policy rollouts and provide updates for parents as more details are finalized.