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HB 1129 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Allowing personal laptops in schools

AI-generated

authorizing superintendents or their designee to allow limited use of personal laptops and tablets in schools and establishing that such use is exempted under school cell phone use policies.

Authorizes superintendents or their designee to permit limited use of personal laptops and tablets for educational purposes as an exemption to school cell phone policies.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill authorizes superintendents or their designee to allow the use of personal laptops and tablets for specific educational purposes as an exemption to school cell phone use policies.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“School boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools shall develop and adopt a policy governing the use of student cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices in schools.”
Section 1
“Such policy shall prohibit all personal communication device use by students from when the first bell rings to start instructional time until the dismissal bell rings to end the academic school day, with approved exceptions determined by the superintendent or their designee with respect to student medical, disability, or language proficiency [need] needs.”
Section 1
“The superintendent or their designee may approve the use of personal laptops and tablets for specific educational purposes when under direct teacher supervision.”
Section 1
“Such policy shall be developed in collaboration with school parents and teachers and shall be reviewed annually.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Muriel HallDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Education Policy
  • Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding

Also: Rep. Peggy BalboniD, Rep. Lee Ann KlugerD, Rep. Stephen WoodcockD, Rep. Heather RaymondD, Rep. Megan MurrayD

Public testimony

16 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

81% support19% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“AFT-NH Testimony in Support of HB 1129 The American Federation of Teachers – New Hampshire urges the House Education and Policy Administration Committee to recommend HB 1129 as Ought to Pass.…”
— Debrah Howes, Bow · American Federation of Teachers - NHsupports
“I support this bill. One of the reasons I voted against the cell phone bill last year was due to a lack of exemptions like this.”
— Toni Weinstein, Newmarketsupports
“Testimony in Support of HB 1129 Honorable Members of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee, I stand in support of House Bill 1129, which seeks to broaden device usage policies in schools by limiting restrictions on personal laptops and tablets under existing cell phone policies.…”
— georgina lambert, BELMONTsupports
“There is zero need to undo or back up from the amazing policy that was put in place last year. As a parent of 2 teens I was completely over the moon when the bell to bell ban passed.…”
— Shanun Carey, Goffstownopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 29, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted189–161
    Overall
    54% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 12, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:46:19–1:50:204m 1slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration16:33–16:5623slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:15:06–2:16:591m 53slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 189-161

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 7
  2. Jan 12, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/12/2026 10:45 am GP 232
  3. Jan 22, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/22/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  4. Jan 29, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 01/29/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 9 P. 36
  5. Feb 4, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 189-161 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 70

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.