Statement from Rep. Hornstein on Passage of ‘Hands Free’ Conference Committee Report

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House of Representatives today passed the final, compromise ‘hands free’ bill after differences were reconciled with the Minnesota Senate. Notable differences include removal of the House provision that would enact a traffic stop demographics study and removal of the Senate provision to allow head scarves, hijabs and other headwear as an allowable mechanism to achieve hands free mode.

Representative Frank Hornstein, chief author of the bill and the Chair of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee released the following statement:

“With distracted driving fatalities continually on the rise, Minnesotans deserve common sense safety measures to combat these preventable tragedies. I’m glad we could pass this long overdue bill in a bipartisan fashion to help make our roadways safer for everyone.” 

The Governor is expected to promptly sign the conference committee report this week, making Minnesota the 18^thstate to require a ‘hands free’ device while driving.