H.F. 782 Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 69. Develop and distribute to school 3 districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and 4 innovation zone schools model policies that, if adopted, would 5 satisfy the school district’s, charter school’s, or innovation 6 zone school’s responsibilities under section 279.87 relating to 7 policies governing student use of personal electronic devices. 8 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 279.87 Limitation on the use of 9 personal electronic devices. 10 1. Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2025, 11 the board of directors of each school district shall adopt 12 policies regarding student use of personal electronic devices 13 during school hours that restrict student use of such devices 14 during classroom instructional time. The policies must meet 15 all of the following requirements: 16 a. Identify policies and information related to various 17 educational devices and technologies that will be made 18 available to students for instructional purposes. 19 b. Identify the methods that a parent or guardian of 20 a student may use to communicate with the student during 21 school hours or while the student is participating in a 22 school-sponsored activity. 23 c. Identify the methods that a parent or guardian of a 24 student may use to communicate with the student during an 25 emergency situation. 26 d. Include protocols that the school district will use to 27 securely store a student’s personal electronic device when such 28 device is in the possession of the school district. 29 e. Specify the discipline associated with a student’s 30 violation of the policies, including the discipline associated 31 with a student’s use of a personal electronic device during 32 classroom instruction or during the administration of an 33 assessment. 34 f. Establish a process through which a student’s parent 35 -1- LSB 1123HV (3) 91 jda/jh 1/ 4

H.F. 782 or guardian may petition the school district to allow the 1 student to maintain access to the student’s personal electronic 2 device during the portion of the school day in which classroom 3 instructional time is delivered if the student’s parent or 4 guardian can establish that there is a legitimate reason 5 related to the student’s physical or mental health for the 6 student to maintain access to the device during such time. 7 g. Allow a student who has an individualized education 8 program, or a plan under section 504 of the federal 9 Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, to maintain access to the 10 student’s personal electronic device during the portion of the 11 school day in which classroom instructional time is delivered 12 if the student’s individualized education program, or plan 13 under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 14 §794, requires the student to maintain such access. 15 2. The board of directors of a school district may adopt 16 policies that limit student use of personal electronic devices 17 during school hours, including the use of such devices during 18 classroom instructional time, that are more stringent than the 19 model policies developed and distributed by the director of the 20 department of education pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 21 69. 22 3. For purposes of this section, “personal electronic 23 device” includes but is not limited to electronic communication 24 equipment, mobile phones, smart phones, video game devices, and 25 portable media players. 26 4. The state board of education may adopt rules pursuant to 27 chapter 17A to administer this section. 28 Sec. 3. REVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 29 PLANS. 30 1. The department of education and the department of public 31 safety shall do all of the following: 32 a. Consult regarding revisions that school districts need 33 to make to high-quality emergency operations plans developed 34 pursuant to section 280.30 to take into account the provisions 35 -2- LSB 1123HV (3) 91 jda/jh 2/ 4

H.F. 782 of section 279.87, as enacted by this Act, and revisions 1 that accredited nonpublic schools may make to such plans to 2 take into account policies regarding student use of personal 3 electronic devices during school hours. 4 b. Provide support and guidance to school districts 5 regarding how to revise high-quality emergency operations 6 plans developed pursuant to section 280.30 so that such plans 7 are consistent with the provisions of section 279.87, as 8 enacted by this Act, and provide similar support and guidance 9 to accredited nonpublic schools that elect to adopt policies 10 regarding student use of personal electronic devices during 11 school hours. 12 2. On or before July 1, 2025, each school district shall 13 revise the school district’s high-quality emergency operations 14 plans developed pursuant to section 280.30 so that such plans 15 are consistent with the provisions of section 279.87, as 16 enacted by this Act. 17 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of 18 immediate importance, take effect upon enactment: 19 1. The section of this Act enacting section 279.87. 20 2. The section of this Act relating to the revision of 21 high-quality emergency operations plans. 22 EXPLANATION 23 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 24 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 25 This bill relates to electronic devices in schools, 26 including student access during instructional hours and school 27 safety plans. 28 Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2025, 29 the bill requires school districts, charter schools, and 30 innovation zone schools to adopt policies regarding student 31 use of personal electronic devices during school hours. The 32 bill establishes what the policies are to include. The bill 33 requires the director of the department of education (DE) to 34 develop and distribute to schools model policies that, if 35 -3- LSB 1123HV (3) 91 jda/jh 3/ 4

H.F. 782 adopted, would satisfy the school’s responsibilities under 1 these provisions. However, schools may adopt policies that 2 are more stringent than these model policies. The bill 3 defines “personal electronic device” to include electronic 4 communication equipment, mobile phones, smart phones, video 5 game devices, and portable media players. These provisions 6 take effect upon enactment. 7 The bill requires DE and the department of public safety to 8 consult regarding revisions that schools may need to make to 9 high-quality emergency operations plans developed pursuant to 10 Code section 280.30 to take into account the policies adopted 11 pursuant to the bill’s provisions and to provide support and 12 guidance to schools regarding how to revise high-quality 13 emergency operations plans so that such plans are consistent 14 with the bill’s provisions. The bill also requires school 15 districts to revise the high-quality emergency operations plans 16 on or before July 1, 2025, so that such plans are consistent 17 with the bill’s provisions. These provisions take effect upon 18 enactment. 19 -4- LSB 1123HV (3) 91 jda/jh 4/ 4