MD SB928

County boards of education must develop and implement policies by the 2027-2028 school year limiting student use of electronic communication devices (cell phones, tablets, smart watches, wireless earbuds, etc.) during the academic school day from first bell to dismissal

Policies must prohibit device use and require secure storage during school hours, ban social media applications determined by the county board, and require administrator approval for personal device use when school-issued devices are unavailable

Exemptions are required for students with IEPs or 504 plans, documented health monitoring needs, emergency events authorized by administrators, educational purposes directed by administrators, language translation for multilingual students, and caregiving responsibilities approved by principals

Disciplinary measures must be tiered and enforced by administrators; suspension or expulsion solely for policy violations is prohibited

County boards must submit annual reports to the Department of Education from September 2027 through September 2032 on policy implementation, disciplinary data disaggregated by demographics, stakeholder engagement, and exemptions granted