HB 163

County Boards of Education - Student Technology Use Policy - Requirements

Sponsor: Chao Wu (District 9A)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: Primary and Secondary EducationStatus: Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a county board of education to develop and adopt a policy on the use of personal electronic devices during school hours; requiring the policy to restrict or limit the use of personal electronic devices by students during school hours, except for any purpose documented in the student's education program or Section 504 plan, to monitor or address a student's health issue, or for certain educational purposes; and requiring the policy to be published on the county board's website and in student handbooks.

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Testimony (20)

MGA witness list

FAV 7FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Qi, Lily	Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mayer, Robertlobbyist	KABOOM!	Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Wu, Delegate Wulegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
UNF	Wilson, Grace	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	Written (PDF)
UNF	Goff, Jessicalobbyist	Maryland Association of Boards of Education	Written (PDF)
UNF	Ursprung, Patricia	Montgomery County Board of Education	Written (PDF)
UNF	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind	Written (PDF)
UNF	Anderson, Zaniah	Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cross, Dr Cashenna A	Councilwoman At-Large, Glenarden	Oral
FWA	Tao, Betsy	Distraction Free Schools MD, MCCPTA Technology Committee	Written (PDF)
FWA	Lamb, Laurenlobbyist	Maryland State Education Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Lerner, Alana	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Unger, Lindsay	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
INFO	Barnes, Andrea	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Anne Arundel County Public SchoolsUNF 1

Asian American and Pacific Islander CaucusFAV 1

Councilwoman At-Large, GlenardenFWA 1

Distraction Free Schools MD, MCCPTA Technology CommitteeFWA 1

KABOOM!FAV 1

Maryland Association of Boards of EducationUNF 1

Maryland State Department of EducationINFO 1

Maryland State Education AssociationFWA 1

Montgomery County Board of EducationUNF 1

NASW MarylandFAV 1

National Federation of the BlindUNF 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

Public School Superintendents' Association of MarylandUNF 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMayer, RobertKABOOM!Registered for: KABOOM!

FAVCollins, JocelynPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Bard College; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; HealthCare Access Maryland…

UNFGoff, JessicaMaryland Association of Boards of EducationRegistered for: Maryland Association of Boards of Education

FWALamb, LaurenMaryland State Education AssociationRegistered for: Maryland State Education Association

INFOKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…