A Florida bill banning drivers from holding their phones on the road was re-filed Tuesday, one week before the start of the 2026 legislative session.
Republican Sen. Erin Grall’s bill, revived from last session, would expand the Sunshine State’s ban on texting while driving to cover holding or “supporting” a handheld device while on the road.
This means drivers would not be able to make calls from their phone, hold it, or even rest it on their laps if the bill becomes law. If passed, it would take effect on Oct. 1.
“‘Handheld manner’ means holding a wireless communications device in one or both hands or physically supporting the device with any other part of the body,” SB 1152 reads. These devices could range from phones to laptops to gaming devices.
The bill would not apply to first responders or include small radios or in-vehicle systems.
Drivers who violate the law while moving through either a school zone or past construction workers would be slapped with a $150 fine and 3 points off their licenses. A subsequent offense would include a $250 fine and 3 more points against the license, and a third offense would include a $500 fine, 4 points against the license, and a 90-day license suspension.
Where did the bill come from?
Tallahassee resident Demetrius Branca has been a leading advocate for a hands-free driving law, which would mirror those of 30 other states plus Washington, D.C. In 2014, Branca’s 19-year-old son Anthony while on his way to Tallahassee State College was killed by a distracted Comcast driver.
During the 2024 session, when the measure passed the House but was never scheduled in the Senate, Branca blasted then-chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Nick DiCeglie, during a Pinellas County legislative delegation meeting. The two engaged in a sharp exchange, but DiCeglie changed course when the bill reemerged during the 2025 legislative session, the Phoenix previously reported.
“I looked at the statistics,” DiCeglie said at the time. “I looked at the data, and I looked at what 31 other states did. And I thought of you and I thought of your son, Anthony.”
Although it passed the Senate that time around, the legislation was never scheduled in the House — a reversal from the year before. Branca blamed Rep. Linda Chaney, who chaired one of the committees that was supposed to see the bill.
“You stopped it cold,” Branca told her at a Pinellas County legislative meeting. “After all the work, all the testimony, all the grieving parents who begged you to act. You chose to not let it through. That was not leadership, that was political cowardice and I’m standing here to look you in the eye and tell you to your face.”
In 2023, distracted driving resulted in the deaths of 3,275 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reported that “texting is the most alarming distraction.”
This year, Grall’s bill has yet to have a House companion.
Her office did not immediately return a request for comment. The 2026 session begins on Jan. 13.
–Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix
Deborah Coffey says
Excellent. Now make tailgating a $1,000 fine. Anyone driving Old Kings Rd. South daily knows why.
JimboXYZ says
This one is an overreach for the part about having it in your lap. Technically, you couldn’t have it in your front pocket or even the pouch of a hoodie ?
“This means drivers would not be able to make calls from their phone, hold it, or even rest it on their laps if the bill becomes law. If passed, it would take effect on Oct. 1.
“‘Handheld manner’ means holding a wireless communications device in one or both hands or physically supporting the device with any other part of the body,” SB 1152 reads.”
And if they are banning the driver from “in your lap”, they need to ban the screens on the dashboard for manufacturers of automobiles to make cars with those. Excluding first responders ? That’s nonsense too, a driver is a driver. If anyone can be distracted by a phone in their lap, that applies to 1st responders just the same.
“The bill would not apply to first responders or include small radios or in-vehicle systems.”
JimboXYZ says
Just me, but the states that lack the cajones to ban the screens on the dashboards, also lack to ban bluetooth hands free smartphone operation for the controls on the steering wheels.
Skibum says
This crazy state is so far behind the curve in many, many ways! It just astounds me that this law has been in place in many other stats for years… but not good ‘ole backwards Flori-DUH. If not for the fact that automobiles were manufactured in other states with seatbelts and turn signals already installed, we probably wouldn’t see those safety features here either… too many Floridian drivers don’t use the damn things anyway!
Laurel says
I once saw a woman, on the Sawgrass Expressway, steering her car with her knees, while flossing her teeth. I wish we could outlaw stupid. That would make a gigantic difference!
Jstone says
All missing the point. Such law has zero impact of its very own outline, any evidence of such violation will Sadly present only sttill after an accident, injury or death. Therefore it’s irrelevant. But how makes up for that is covers citizens pulled over ” mistakenly “for anything, including when hands and steering wheel look like hands and cellphone even 10 and 2(if you move fingers ) . Hey no harm, no foul. Hard feelings optional. Unless of course there is harm and foul. Maybe in discovery some questionable testimony?, either side . What I’m saying is the bill may not impact provide, violations or garnish funds for from which is written, but shall surely do so 10 fold from wich it’s not. The Free will see it as it may.