New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico SB23: EXCEPTIONS TO STUDENT USE OF PHONES
Status: Passed one chamber, February 16, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to public schools; amending the requirements of and exceptions to the mandatory policy implemented by a school district or charter school regarding student use of wireless communication devices; requiring the prohibition of student use of wireless communication devices during the school day; amending the education technology infrastructure fund to allow grants to a school district or charter school that implements a policy prohibiting student use of wireless communication devices during the school day…
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AMENDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF AND EXCEPTIONS TO THE MANDATORY POLICY IMPLEMENTED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL REGARDING STUDENT USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES; REQUIRING THE PROHIBITION OF STUDENT USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY; AMENDING THE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TO ALLOW GRANTS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL THAT IMPLEMENTS A POLICY PROHIBITING STUDENT USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY; INCLUDING A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY PROHIBITING STUDENT USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES AS PART OF THE CRITERIA FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 22-1-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2025, .233620.1GLG wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ Chapter 155, Section 1) is amended to read: "22-1-17. WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE--DEFINITION-- POLICY--USE OF DEVICE BY STUDENTS.-- A. As used in this section, "wireless communication device" means a portable electronic device capable of transmitting voice, text or data [including a] or taking photographs or recording videos and includes (2) tablet computer; (3) laptop computer; [or] (4) gaming device; or (5) camera or video camera. B. [No later than August 1, 2025] Each school district and charter school shall adopt and implement a [wireless communication device policy. The department shall …