Laredo ISD trustees discuss enforcement of Texas House Bill 1481, seek state grant for student-device storage

Laredo — Trustees and district leaders on Aug. 13 discussed how Laredo Independent School District will implement Texas House Bill 1481, which restricts student electronic communication during instructional time, and reviewed a state grant the district may apply for to purchase secure storage for student devices.

The district’s legal counsel, Dr. Óscar Pérez, told trustees the law prohibits communication during instructional time and that the district’s current approach is to require students to keep devices powered off and stored for the duration of the school day — from the first bell to the last bell, including passing periods and lunch. Pérez said administrators and campus behavior coordinators were briefed and that exceptions for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans will remain in place and handled through the usual special-education processes.

Why this matters: HB 1481 changes which device behaviors are punishable during instruction and requires districts to adopt feasible, legal procedures that protect instruction while respecting due process. The Laredo ISD discussion addressed who may seize or hold devices, storage logistics during testing and non‑backpack days, and how to notify families and staff.

Trustees and administrators emphasized enforcement will mostly be an administrative function. Classroom-level management…