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Senate adopts hands‑free driving law; school and work zones remain primary enforcement
Summary
On June 2 the Senate passed House Bill 519, a hands‑free driving measure that makes handheld phone use a secondary offense statewide but primary in school and roadway work zones. The bill passed 33–5 on a roll call after floor Q&A about enforcement, racial profiling, and insurance impacts.
The Senate passed House Bill 519 on June 2, 2025, moving Louisiana closer to a statewide hands‑free driving standard. The bill requires drivers to use hands‑free or voice‑activated features while operating a vehicle; handheld use is a secondary offense statewide but is a primary offense in school zones and roadway work zones.
Sponsor remarks on the floor noted the bill’s intent to reduce distracted‑driving crashes and lower insurance costs. The sponsor told the chamber that similar laws in other states were linked to fewer crashes and lower claims costs; an exchange on the floor cited an estimated reduction in accidents and insurance claims in states with comparable laws.
Several senators asked detailed enforcement and civil‑rights questions. Senators asked how officers would establish probable cause for a stop (the sponsor and amendments clarified that handheld use alone would not provide a basis to stop a driver because the provision was secondary except in school and work zones). Senators also asked whether the bill would permit racial profiling; sponsors emphasized the secondary‑offense design to reduce the risk of pretextual stops. The bill contains a list of permitted device uses and exceptions — for example, use of hands‑free systems and reporting emergencies.
Senators also debated whether a hands‑free law would reduce auto‑insurance premiums; the sponsor pointed to national studies and said proponents expect a measurable reduction in claims. After floor amendments that removed an unnecessary probable‑cause clause, the Senate approved the bill on a roll call, 33 ayes and 5 nays. The measure now proceeds in the legislative process for concurrence/house actions as required.
Senators who spoke on the bill included the sponsor on the floor and members who asked questions about enforcement, privacy, and insurance impacts; the transcript shows sustained interest in balancing roadway safety with civil‑liberties concerns.
