The Chair opened the hearing on HB2792.

Chris Waggoner provided the committee with an overview of the bill.(Attachment 18)

Lieutenant Roy Wise gave proponent testimony in that the bill addresses clarifying evidence requiring drivers to use their cellphones hands free or not at all so that they remain more focused on the road and on others.(Attachment 19)

Travis Lowe appeared before the committee to give proponent evidence that the bill is a step on the right direction to help reduce the number of distracted driving related crashes each year. currently the state of Kansas averages around 15,000 crashes due to distracted driving each year with one in four crashes attributed to inattention. (Attachment 20)

Catherine Magana gave proponent testimony to the committee on behalf of Kansas Department of Transportation as KDOT believes that education is an important part of keeping our roadways safe. If the bill is enacted KDOT would like to develop an educational campaign to alerting drivers of  this lifesaving law change.  (Attachment 21) 

Michael White gave supporting testimony to the bill providing crash statistics from 2021 through 20214 in Kansas Work Zones.   The use of cell phones in work related zones is one of the most common causes of inattentive driving and work zone crashes.(Attachment 22)

Steven Duerst speaking on behalf of General Motors gave proponent testimony to the bill in that would reduce and eliminate distracted driving which aligns with their vision of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion thus saving lives.(Attachment 23)

Bob Eckhardt stood in favor of HB2792 explaining that by exempting licensed amateur radio operators from this bill, it supports ham radio operators who stand ready to take equipment anywhere communication is needed to get it up and working very quickly. (Attachment 24)        

Timothy Graham gave proponent testimony to the bill stating that by requiring drivers to remain attentive in school zones and limiting handheld mobile phone  use is a commonsense step that helps keep  students and educators safe.(Attachment 25)

Written proponent  testimony was provided by Ed Klumpp and  Phyllis Larimore.(Attachment 26 ) (Attachment 27)

The Chair closed the hearing on HB2792.