HB2466

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the people of the State of Hawaii possess a fundamental constitutional right to privacy, safety, and personal dignity, and that the State

has a compelling interest in protecting the well-being, education, and development of its children. Schools exist not only to impart academic knowledge, but to prepare students to

participate safely, critically, and responsibly in an increasingly complex digital society. Currently, Hawaii is one of only six states in the nation with no statewide law or guidance limiting the use of phones and other electronic devices in school.

The legislature further finds that the pervasive presence of cell phones, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence-driven content in schools has fundamentally altered

the learning environment. Students are routinely exposed often without meaningful choice or understanding to systems deliberately designed to capture attention, manipulate behavior, and maximize engagement at the expense of focus, mental health,

and academic achievement.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence have dramatically intensified these risks. AI-generated images, videos, audio, and text— commonly referred to as synthetic media, deepfakes, or “AI slop"- are now capable of convincingly imitating real people, events, and communications. These tools are increasingly used to spread misinformation, fabricate images and videos, impersonate others, harass classmates, exploit minors, and undermine trust in what students see and hear. The legislature finds that young people are particularly vulnerable to these harms, as they are still developing the cognitive skills necessary to distinguish reality from fabrication and truth from manipulation.

The legislature further finds that excessive access to cell phones and social media during the instructional day fragments attention, disrupts classroom learning, and diverts

teachers’ time away from instruction and toward constant enforcement and redirection. Educators across the nation overwhelmingly report that unrestricted device use interferes

with learning, exacerbates anxiety and depression, and contributes to declining academic performance.

At the same time, the legislature recognizes that simply restricting technology without education is insufficient. Students must be equipped with the skills to critically evaluate

digital content, understand how artificial intelligence systems and social media platforms influence behavior, recognize the risks of manipulated or false content, and protect themselves and others from online harms such as cyberbullying, impersonation, fraud, predatory behavior, and exploitation.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Develop an electronic telecommunication device ban in schools across the State;

(2) Provide students with age-appropriate education in social media and artificial intelligence literacy; and

(3) Require the DOE to conduct a review and report on the effectiveness of the ban and social media and artificial intelligence literacy education.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Electronic telecommunication device use. (a) Effective beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and thereafter, no student, shall use or operate any electronic telecommunication device, including any mobile telephone service, during instructional hours, whether on campus or off-campus unless for a school related activity.

(b) Effective beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and thereafter, and subject to the exceptions herein, no student shall use an electronic telecommunication device throughout the instructional day. If a student brings an electronic telecommunication device in any public school building or on the grounds thereof during an instructional day, the electronic telecommunication device shall either be turned off and properly stowed away for the duration of the instructional day or prohibited from being turned on and used during the instructional day.

(c) The provisions of this section do not apply to a student whose individualized education program, individualized accommodation plan, section 504 plan, or individualized health plan requires the student's use of an electronic telecommunication device, or when a student is expressly authorized by a teacher to use their electronic telecommunication device for instructional purposes.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply when it is necessary to use an electronic telecommunication device to respond to an emergency situation.

(e) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section.

For the purpose this section:

"Electronic telecommunication device" means any electronic device that can connect to the internet or other devices, but shall not include department approved and issued devices."

SECTION 3. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Social media and artificial intelligence literacy education. (a) The department shall develop and administer a comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate K-12 social media and artificial intelligence literacy education curriculum.

(b) The curriculum shall include the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media and consider the following:

(1) The negative effects of social media on mental health, including addiction, anxiety, depression, and reduced attention and concentration;

(2) The design of social media platforms and artificial intelligence systems to influence user behavior, including engagement optimization, recommendation algorithms, and persuasive design techniques;

(3) The creation, use, and dissemination of artificial intelligence-generated content, including synthetic images, videos, audio, text, and other AI-generated media, sometimes referred to as “deepfakes” or “AI slop”;

(4) The risks associated with artificial intelligence-generated content, including misinformation, disinformation, impersonation, fraud, harassment, and reputational harm;

(5) Strategies to critically evaluate digital content and to identify indicators that content may be artificially generated or manipulated, including but not limited to visual inconsistencies, audio irregularities, contextual anomalies, source verification, and corroboration across reliable sources;

(6) The limitations of artificial intelligence detection tools and the importance of skepticism, media literacy, and critical thinking when evaluating digital information;

(7) The permanency and downstream consequences of sharing content online including artificial intelligence-generated content;

(8) Best practices for maintaining personal security and privacy online, including the protection of personal data, biometric information, and digital identity;

(9) The identification of cyberbullying, impersonation, predatory behavior, human trafficking, and other online harms that may be facilitated or amplified through social media or artificial intelligence technologies; and

(10) How and where to report suspicious, harmful, or deceptive online content or behavior.

(c) The curriculum shall emphasize critical thinking, digital citizenship, and informed decision-making, and shall be updated periodically to reflect technological developments and emerging risks.

(d) The department shall make available online the instructional material being used pursuant to this section, and each school shall notify parents or guardians of availability of such materials."

SECTION 4. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Review and Report. (a) The department shall periodically reassess the effectiveness of the electronic telecommunication device use restrictions and the social media and artificial intelligence literacy education implemented pursuant to section 302A- .

(b) The reassessment shall evaluate, to the extent practicable:

(1) The impact of the electronic telecommunication device restrictions on classroom instructions, student engagement, and academic outcomes;

(2) The effectiveness of the social media and artificial intelligence literacy curriculum in improving students’ understanding of digital risks, critical thinking skills, and online safety;

(3) Implementation challenges, enforcement issues, and unintended consequences;

(4) Feedback from teachers, administrators, students, and parents; and

(5) Whether changes in technology, student behavior, or educational best practices warrant modifications to the restrictions or curriculum.

(c) No later than three years after the effective date of this Act, and every five years thereafter, the department shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed statutory or administrative changes, to the legislature and made available to the public.

(d) The department shall adopt rules under chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section."

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2466
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII