Governor Abbott Signs School Cell Phone Bill Into Law, What About THC Ban?

As expected, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law the Texas bill that will ban K-12 students from using cell phones during school hours. But no word yet on what Abbott intends to do with SB 3, the state THC ban.

House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using their cell phones during the school day, while also providing some flexibility for school districts, allowing them to decide whether to allow cellphone use during extracurricular activities.

So far, at least eight other states have enacted similar bans over the last few years, including both Democrat-led states like California and Republican-led states like Arkansas. The law will take effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 3 would ban all THC-infused products across the state, and has been pushed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as one of priority bills for this legislative session.

Governor Abbott has remained quiet about what his decision will be, and has been deflecting questions asked by reporters. Abbott has until midnight tomorrow to make a decision on the bill.