Prohibiting Cellphones at School - House Bill 1481

• The device shall be confiscated and stored in the main office for the remainder of the school day; the student’s parent or guardian will be notified.
• A discipline referral will be issued.
• The student will receive a documented warning.
• The student can retrieve the confiscated device after the dismissal bell.

• The device shall be confiscated and stored in the main office for the remainder of the school day; the student’s parent or guardian will be notified.
• A discipline referral will be issued.
• The student will be assigned a campus-based detention (Ex: lunch, before school/after school, Saturday school).
• The student’s parent or guardian will be permitted to retrieve confiscated devices with a signed acknowledgment of the Personal Communication Device Policy and the associated consequences for subsequent violations.

• The device shall be confiscated and stored in the main office until the conditions for retrieval are met; the student’s parent or guardian will be notified of the requirement for an in-person meeting.
• A discipline referral will be issued.
• The student will be assigned one day of in-school suspension (ISS).
• The student’s parent or guardian will be permitted to retrieve confiscated devices with a signed acknowledgment of the Personal Communication Device Policy and the associated consequences for subsequent violations.

• The device shall be confiscated and stored in the main office until the conditions for retrieval are met; the student’s parent or guardian will be notified of the requirement for an in-person meeting.
• A discipline referral will be issued.
• The student will be assigned a minimum of two days of in-school suspension (ISS).
• The student’s parent or guardian will be permitted to retrieve confiscated devices only after an in-person meeting with the principal or designee, student, and parent or guardian in attendance.
• Student will no longer be permitted to bring or possess personal electronic devices at school.
• The school may impose additional consequences as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct for continued refusal to follow the rules.

House Bill 1481 is a law enacted in June 2025 by the 89th Texas Legislature that requires all Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt a written policy prohibiting student use of personal communication devices on school property during the school day.

By putting away personal devices, students can fully engage in classroom learning, connect more meaningfully with their peers and teachers, and strengthen the character skills that lead to long-term success.

• Cellphones
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Earbuds & Wireless Headphones
• Radio or Paging Devices
• Gaming Devices
• Personal Computers
• Fitness Trackers (with messaging capability)
• AI/Smart Glasses

Students must leave personal communication devices at home or keep them powered off or silenced and stowed away during the school day. This includes passing periods and lunches.

Devices purchased and issued by Comal ISD are exempt from this restriction.

Middle School and High School students may only use personal devices:

• Before the first bell and
• After the final bell 

Elementary School students must silence or power off and stow away their devices at all times while on campus. 

Students and parents can always visit or contact the front office if they need to get a message to someone. 

The device will be confiscated and consequences will progress with each offense in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. 

Non-compliance with staff directives to turn over prohibited electronic devices will be considered insubordination and handled in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Yes. Every campus will follow a standardized procedure to ensure fairness and consistency in how the policy is communicated and enforced.

You can support the policy by

• • Talking with your student about the importance of staying focused at school,
  • Setting expectations at home about responsible device use, and
  • Reminding them to leave devices stowed away and either turned off or silenced during the school day.

A student shall be authorized to use a personal communication device on school property during the school day only under the following circumstances:

• • The student’s use is necessary for implementation of the student’s individualized education program, a 504 plan, or a similar program or plan; 
  • The student’s use is required due to a documented need based on a directive from a qualified physician; or
  • The student’s use is necessary to comply with a health or safety requirement imposed by law or as part of the District or campus safety protocols.

Please contact your campus principal or assistant principal.