WatchGov

California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 1128

Pupils: technology-based materials: school-issued electronic devices.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (1)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district, when adopting instructional materials for use in school, to include relevant technology-based materials, defined for these purposes to mean basic or supplemental instructional materials that are designed for use by pupils and teachers as learning resources and that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resource, and including the electronic equipment required to make use of those materials used by pupils and teachers as a learning resource, including, but not limited to, laptop computers and devices that provide internet access. Existing law prohibits a school official from requiring a pupil to purchase any instructional materials for the pupil's use in the school, except as provided. Commencing with the 2027–28 school year, this bill would prohibit, unless necessary under a specified circumstance, a school district, county office of education, or charter school from requiring a pupil in kindergarten, including a pupil in transitional kindergarten, to take home a school-issued electronic device, as defined, except that a local educational agency may authorize those pupils to take home a school-issued electronic device. The bill would encourage local educational agencies to regularly review and update their policies related to pupils' screen time and, in conducting that review, to solicit input from, among others, currently employed teachers and school administrators. This bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before July 1, 2027, to (1) curate and maintain on its internet website resources for age-appropriate screen time and electronic device use in schools and guidance on how to transition take-home school-issued electronic devices into dedicated classroom-based electronic devices and how to participate in e-waste recycling or buy-back programs, and (2) take into consideration when curating the resources and guidance, among other things, developmentally appropriate screen exposure time at each grade level.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 28, 2026
Senate
Unfinished Business SB1128 Stern et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 27, 2026
House
SB 1128 Stern Senate Third Reading By WickspassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
House
Do pass as amended.passSet your home in California to see
Jul 1, 2026
House
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
May 22, 2026
Senate
Special ConsentpassSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
Senate
Do passpassSet your home in California to see
May 4, 2026
Senate
Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 22, 2026
Senate
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

Actions