Florida lawmakers are advancing two separate bills that would expand the state’s hands-free driving rules and further restrict how drivers can use cellphones behind the wheel.
In the House, HB 1241 would prohibit drivers from physically holding or supporting the weight of a wireless device while operating a vehicle, expanding Florida’s current texting-while-driving law.
If passed, the bill would require sustained phone use to occur through hands-free accessories and would begin with a warning-only education period from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026, before full enforcement starts Jan. 1, 2027.
The House bill also revises penalty structures and directs a portion of citation revenue toward driver safety education. It includes guardrails for privacy, barring law enforcement from searching a wireless device without a warrant except in cases involving crashes with injury or death. The measure would take effect July 1, 2026, if approved.
In the Senate, SB 1152 takes a similar but tighter approach. The bill expands the handheld prohibition and increases penalties in school zones and active work zones. Unlike the House version, the Senate proposal does not include a grace period and would take effect Oct. 1, 2026, if passed.