AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.

Utah law currently restricts students from using cellphones, smart watches, and similar devices at school only during "classroom hours," meaning teacher-supervised instructional time, which explicitly excludes lunch, recess, and passing periods between classes. This bill would expand that default prohibition to cover the entire school day, defined as everything from the first bell to the last bell, including lunch, recess, and transitions between classes. Schools would still be required to allow device use for emergencies, the SafeUT Crisis Line, disability or medical accommodations, and would now also be required to let parents request that their student briefly use a device in a designated area during non-instructional time; school districts would retain authority to grant additional exceptions or impose stricter rules.