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HB 1241FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Died in State Affairs Committee

Proposed Hands-Free Driving Requirements

Original title: Hands-free Driving

January 8, 2026

traffic safetydriver licensingwireless communicationsfinesemergency services

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently Died in State Affairs Committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

13 actions
  1. Feb 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  2. Feb 13, 2026House
    Now in State Affairs Committee
  3. Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to State Affairs Committee
  4. Feb 12, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  5. Feb 12, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  6. Feb 12, 2026House
    Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
Show 7 earlier actions
  1. Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by Government Operations Subcommittee
  2. Feb 9, 2026House
    PCS added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
  3. Jan 15, 2026House
    Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
  4. Jan 15, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to State Affairs Committee
  5. Jan 15, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
  6. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  7. Jan 8, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed

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 →

The Frame

What this does

The bill would have increased financial and licensing penalties for drivers who use handheld devices while driving carelessly, with all new fine revenue directed to the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Drivers

Drivers face potential fines, license points, and new requirements regarding the use of handheld devices.

Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund

The fund would have received revenue from the new $60 fines.

Law enforcement officers

Officers would have been required to inform drivers of their rights regarding device searches and prohibited from accessing devices without warrants.

What changed

Current stage: Died in State Affairs Committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill would have created a new $60 fine and added one point to a driver's license for using a handheld wireless device while driving carelessly. It also established a safety program for first-time offenders to avoid these penalties and set strict rules for law enforcement regarding the search of mobile devices during traffic stops.

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 a police officer search my phone if they pull me over for this?
No. The bill requires officers to inform you of your right to decline a search. They cannot access or confiscate your device without a warrant or your voluntary, unequivocal consent.
What happens if I am a first-time offender?
You may elect to participate in an approved driving safety program. If you complete the program, the additional $60 fine and the license point will be waived.
Are there any exceptions for using a phone while driving?
Yes. Exceptions include using a device in a hands-free or voice-operated mode, using navigation systems, reporting emergencies, or performing official duties as an emergency responder.

Why It Matters

The bill would have increased financial and licensing penalties for drivers who use handheld devices while driving carelessly, with all new fine revenue directed to the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Motion succeededhouse2/11/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Government Operations Subcommittee)

Total

34

Yes

34

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Privacy Protections in Traffic Stops

The bill explicitly codifies privacy protections for wireless devices during traffic stops, requiring officers to inform drivers of their right to refuse searches.

Law enforcement officers

Connected Entities

organizationGovernment Operations Subcommittee“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →
organizationState Affairs Committee“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →
bill_numberCS“Committee Substitute”Map →
otherRule 7.18(a)“Procedural rule regarding bill disposition”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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