Senator Sarah Novak sponsored Senate Bill 359, a hands‑free driving measure that would prohibit drivers from holding or using a portable wireless communications device while operating a motor vehicle and require hands‑free interfaces for permitted uses. Novak said the measure is not a total cell‑phone ban but a safety‑focused step to reduce distracted driving.

The hearing included extensive, emotional testimony from family members and emergency responders. Parents of Chloe Worl—whose death in a March 10 wreck was described in testimony—urged passage, saying the other driver was using Snapchat and “never put on her brakes.” Multiple first‑responders, a school‑bus driver who responded to the crash, volunteer firefighters and EMTs described seeing the aftermath of fatal and life‑changing crashes they attributed to driver distraction.

Safety and industry stakeholders supported the bill. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association, AAA, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and insurance and safety groups offered data and policy support; the Alliance emphasized that modern vehicle technologies (voice activation, integrated interfaces) make hands‑free driving feasible. The Department of Transportation’s highway traffic‑safety division presented state figures: between 2013 and 2022, distracted drivers accounted for more than 1,500 serious injuries and more than 1,700 fatalities; 26% of distracted drivers in fatal crashes were phone‑distracted.

Proponents included law‑enforcement organizations and firefighter unions; a high‑school student testified in favor. Committee members asked technical drafting questions about exemptions (for emergency services, CB radio and built‑in vehicle systems) and whether touchscreen interfaces should be covered. Sponsor Novak resisted expanding the bill to cover all in‑vehicle controls, noting the stated goal is to limit handheld phone interaction and encourage hands‑free technology.

The hearing record shows broad emotional testimony and technical discussion about enforcement, exemptions, and the relationship between state and municipal ordinances. Committee members signaled further work to resolve drafting details and timing for enforcement.