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Family and safety groups push 'Chloe’s Law' hands‑free driving bill; committee adopts minor amendment and moves bill forward
Summary
Senate Bill 359, dubbed Chloe’s Law and sponsored by Senator Sarah Novak, would prohibit drivers from holding or manipulating mobile devices while operating a vehicle; the committee adopted an amendment narrowing a parked‑vehicle exception and moved the bill forward by voice vote.
Senators heard testimony on Senate Bill 359, a hands‑free driving measure sponsored by Senator Sarah Novak aimed at reducing distracted driving. Novak said she brought the bill after the 2021 fatal crash that killed a former student, and described the proposal as a targeted hands‑free law rather than a broad ban on all device uses.
Proponents described the bill as a public‑safety measure that gives law enforcement a clearer tool to address phone‑related distractions. Connie Worrall, the mother of Chloe Worrall, recounted her daughter’s death and said Montana was the only state without a hands‑free statute; Keith Worrall and local community leaders also testified in support. The Montana Department of Transportation director and the Association of Montana Troopers presented statistics showing distracted driving contributed to a significant share of Montana fatalities;…
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