House Judiciary hears hands‑free distracted‑driving bill after family testimony about fatal crashes

Sen. Sarah Novak, sponsor of Senate Bill 359, told the committee the bill creates a statewide hands‑free distracted‑driving requirement (not a full phone ban) to reduce crashes caused by phone use. Novak framed the measure as a safety standard to keep drivers' eyes and attention on the road.

Family members of crash victims, including Chloe Worrell's parents, and first responders recounted fatal and life‑altering crashes they attribute to phone distraction. Connie and Keith Worrell described a March 10, 2021, head‑on collision they said was caused when another driverwas using Snapchat and never braked. First responders and fire chiefs described the traumatic scenes their crews encounter and urged passage.

Support also came from the Association of Montana Troopers, Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, insurance industry representatives and vehicle‑technology trade groups, which argued that growing in‑vehicle safety technologies and low‑cost hands‑free adapters make compliance feasible. DOT traffic‑safety staff provided statewide crash data that showed distraction‑related fatalities and phone involvement in a proportion of those crashes.

Committee members asked about in‑vehicle embedded interfaces, work‑radio exemptions (CB radios), and whether driving while programming a GPS while stopped is covered. Novak said the bill exempts certain work communications and allows use of embedded hands‑free systems and navigation when the vehicle provides voice guidance; the sponsor resisted broadening the definition of prohibited in‑dash interactions to avoid opening the bill to many other distractions.

The committee did not vote at the hearing; Novak asked for a due pass.