New Texas Law Banning Phones in Schools is Facing Major Pushback

The state of Texas has recently banned cell phones in schools. The ban has received positive reviews from many. However, not everyone is not on board with the ban.

When Did The Cell Phone Ban Take Effect?

The Texas House Bill 1481 was made a law on June 20th, 2025. According to the wording:

"The policy must prohibit student use of personal communication devices—as defined in Texas Education Code (TEC), §37.082(d), which includes cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other devices capable of telecommunication or digital communication—on school property during the school day. The term does not include an electronic device provided to a student by the district or charter school."

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All schools in the state of Texas must set up a mandate regarding cell phones, or other electronic items, by September 18th, 2025. But not all students are on board with this ideology. Some, in fact, are trying to flip the script and undo the ban.

How Is One Texas Student Trying To Change The Law?

A petition about the cell phone ban was posted online. A student from Lake Ridge High School in Texas, Cyliyah Goodlow, told Houston Public Media the following:

"The claim of the law is to help children, but their actions say a different story, like rejecting legislation to give all Texas children free meals during the summer...That is something that would have made a real impact. You cannot claim to say that you are trying to protect children while signing laws against children."

At the time of this article being posted, the petition has over 130,000 signatures. It remains to be seen if the effort will have an effect on the law. As this is a developing story, we will have more information when it becomes available.