Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481 into law, banning K-12 students from using cell phones and other personal communication devices such as smartwatches and tablets during the school day. The law requires all public and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas to prohibit the use of these devices during school hours, effective starting with the upcoming school year in fall 2025. School districts are tasked with developing policies over the summer to enforce the ban. The legislation aims to support productive learning environments by eliminating distractions. Similar measures have been adopted in other states, including Virginia, where Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a law requiring students to keep phones off during class. The Texas law covers all personal electronic devices not provided by the school and applies statewide, extending restrictions that some schools, like O'Connor High School in San Antonio, had already implemented. The ban has sparked discussions among parents and educators about communication and student focus during school hours.