# Virginia SB738: Public elementary & secondary schools; bell-to-bell student cell phone & smart device possession.

Virginia SB738, Public elementary & secondary schools; bell-to-bell student cell phone & smart device possession., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-04-02 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB738-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB738
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Public elementary & secondary schools; bell-to-bell student cell phone & smart device possession.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2024-09-18
- Last action: 2025-04-02, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (412 yes, 138 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 91 | 2 |   |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 73 | 23 |   |
| 2025-02-17 | Senate | Senate acceded to request | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 37 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 67 | 28 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | 14 | 6 |   |
| 2025-01-28 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-23 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |

## Actions (55)

- 2025-04-02: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0606) (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Enacted, Chapter 606 (Effective 07/01/2025) (House)
- 2025-04-02: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled (House)
- 2025-04-02: Signed by President as reenrolled (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Reenrolled bill text (SB738ER2) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (91-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's substitute printed (SB738S3) (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738) (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB738ER) (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by House (73-Y 23-N) (House)
- 2025-02-20: Conference substitute printed 25107823D-S2 (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Amended by conference committee
- 2025-02-18: Delegates: Rasoul, Cousins, Green (House)
- 2025-02-18: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2025-02-17: Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Senators: Pekarsky, Hashmi, Pillion (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2025-02-13: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2025-02-12: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 37-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Passed House with substitute (67-Y 28-N) (House)
- 2025-02-10: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-10: Education Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-10: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-07: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738) (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Committee substitute printed 25106766D-H1 (House)
- 2025-02-05: Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2025-02-03: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-28: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB738) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Education and Health Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (37-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Committee substitute printed 25105124D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2024-09-18: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2024-09-18: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100096D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079096.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079095.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2025-04-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075427.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075426.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-03-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074689.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074688.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074206.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068933.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068932.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064889.HTML)
- Substitute, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064907.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064906.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042331.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042330.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1040037.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1040036.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021929.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021928.PDF)
- Introduced, 2024-09-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1010120.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1010119.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079096.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079095.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075427.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1075426.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074689.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074688.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074206.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068933.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068932.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064889.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064907.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064906.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042331.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042330.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1040037.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1040036.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021929.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021928.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1010120.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1010119.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB738-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).