Virginia Senate Bill 738
Session 2025
Public elementary & secondary schools; bell-to-bell student cell phone & smart device possession.
Became Law
Became Law on Apr 2, 2025
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
738
State
Virginia
Session
2025
Senate votes are unavailable for this bill.
Summary
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-277 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-79.3:1, relating to public elementary and secondary schools; student discipline; bell-to-bell student cell phone and smart device possession and use policies; development and implementation.
Public elementary and secondary schools; student cell phone possession and use policies; development and implementation. Directs each school board to develop and each public elementary and secondary school to implement policies relating to the possession and use of cell phones and smart devices by students on school property from bell to bell, as defined in the law, and requires such policies, among other things, to (i) restrict student cell phone and smart device possession and use on school property from bell to bell and (ii) permit any student, pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan, Section 504 Plan, individualized health care plan, or Limited English Proficiency plan, to possess and use a cell phone or smart device on school property, including in the classroom, from bell to bell to monitor or address a health concern or as an accommodation or assistive technology support. This bill is identical to HB 1961.
Chaptered
Reenrolled
Governor Substitute
Governor's Recommendation
Enrolled
Conference Report
Conference Substitute
Education Substitute
Education and Health Substitute
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
Sort by most recent
04/02/2025
Office of the Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0606)
04/02/2025
House
Enacted, Chapter 606 (Effective 07/01/2025)
04/02/2025
House
Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/02/2025
Senate
Signed by President as reenrolled
04/02/2025
Senate
Reenrolled bill text (SB738ER2)
04/02/2025
Senate
Reenrolled
04/02/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
04/02/2025
House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (91-Y 2-N)
04/02/2025
Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
03/24/2025
Senate
Governor's substitute printed (SB738S3)
03/24/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
03/11/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
03/11/2025
Senate
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
03/10/2025
Senate
Signed by President
03/07/2025
House
Signed by Speaker
03/07/2025
Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
03/07/2025
Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB738ER)
03/07/2025
Senate
Enrolled
02/21/2025
Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N)
02/21/2025
House
Conference report agreed to by House (73-Y 23-N)
02/20/2025
Senate
Conference substitute printed 25107823D-S2
02/20/2025
Virginia General Assembly
Amended by conference committee
02/18/2025
House
Delegates: Rasoul, Cousins, Green
02/18/2025
House
Conferees appointed by House
02/17/2025
Senate
Senators: Pekarsky, Hashmi, Pillion
02/17/2025
Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate
02/17/2025
Senate
Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N)
02/13/2025
House
House requested conference committee
02/13/2025
House
House insisted on substitute
02/12/2025
Senate
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 37-N)
02/10/2025
House
Passed House with substitute (67-Y 28-N)
02/10/2025
House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
02/10/2025
House
Education Substitute agreed to
02/10/2025
House
Read third time
02/07/2025
House
Read second time
02/06/2025
Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
02/05/2025
House
Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 6-N)
02/05/2025
House
Committee substitute printed 25106766D-H1
02/03/2025
House
Referred to Committee on Education
02/03/2025
House
Placed on Calendar
02/03/2025
House
Read first time
01/28/2025
Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
01/27/2025
Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
01/27/2025
Senate
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
01/27/2025
Senate
Reading of substitute waived
01/27/2025
Senate
Read second time
01/27/2025
Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738)
01/24/2025
Senate
Passed by for the day
01/24/2025
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (37-Y 0-N)
01/24/2025
Senate
Rules suspended
01/23/2025
Senate
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
01/23/2025
Senate
Committee substitute printed 25105124D-S1
01/16/2025
Senate
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
09/18/2024
Senate
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
09/18/2024
Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100096D
Sources
VA Legislature
Open States
Record Created
Nov 5, 2024 7:49:41 AM
Record Updated
Sep 1, 2025 1:24:53 PM