Minnesota House Passes Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill

SAINT PAUL, MN — A hands-free cell phone bill (House File 50) cleared the Minnesota House of Representatives Monday by a vote of 106-21. Legislators are taking action in response to victims of distracted driving who want to prevent more deaths.

"Distracted driving fatalities are continually on the rise," Rep. Frank Hornstein, who sponsored the bill, said in a statement.

"Requiring 'Hands-free' mode will deliver common sense safety measures to combat these preventable tragedies."

Current state law bans emailing, texting, and using a web browser while driving. Hornstein’s bill applies the same enforcement and penalties to drivers who do not use their cell phone in a hands-free mode. There are exceptions for emergencies and one-touch activation functions.

Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia have hands-free cell phone laws, according to a news release.

"Minnesotans deserve to be safe on our roadways," said House Speaker Melissa Hortman.

"There is clear evidence from other states that these types of laws save lives. We’ve heard so many heart-wrenching stories from Minnesotans of family members lost because people are on their smartphones instead of focusing on the road. It’s long past time we got this done."

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, distracted or inattentive driving was a contributing factor in one in five crashes from 2013-2017, resulting in an average of 53 deaths and 216 serious injuries each year.

The bill will now head to the Minnesota Senate for a vote.