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Read. Follow. Verify.Kansas HB 2260 Prohibits Handheld Electronic Device Use While Driving
Last action · April 10, 2026: Died in Committee
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What This Bill Proposed
Drivers in Kansas are prohibited from physically holding or supporting electronic communication devices, texting, making calls without hands-free features, or browsing the internet while operating a motor vehicle. Law enforcement officers issue written warnings until January 1, 2026, after which violations incur fines ranging from $150 to $500, with severe accidents resulting in misdemeanor or felony charges.
Motorists face new financial penalties and legal liability for routine phone handling, while law enforcement officers must inform stopped drivers of their right to decline device searches.
- House Bill 2260 was introduced in the 2025 legislative session by the House Committee on Transportation. context
- State legislatures frequently update traffic statutes to address distracted driving involving smartphones and mobile devices. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Motor vehicle operators
Drivers are prohibited from holding or using handheld electronic communication devices while driving and face fines or criminal penalties for violations.
Law enforcement officers
Officers must issue warnings prior to January 1, 2026, inform stopped operators of their right to decline device searches, and are restricted from stopping motorists solely for this violation.
Commercial motor vehicle operators
Commercial drivers must use voice-operated or hands-free functions while seated and restrained by a seat belt, with specific exemptions for dispatching, roadside assistance, and mounted displays under 10 by 10 inches.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my cell phone for navigation while driving?
What happens if I am caught using a handheld device while driving?
Are hands-free phone calls permitted?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died in committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 10, 2026HouseDied in Committee
- Feb 4, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to House Committee on Transportation
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transition from warnings to monetary penalties
The bill establishes a grace period requiring only written warnings for noncommercial motor vehicles until January 1, 2026.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.kslegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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