State Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, has filed Senate Bill 28, known as the “Phone Down Kentucky Act,” to kick off the 2026 legislative session, which began Tuesday in Frankfort.

Higdon, who is serving his final term as a state Senator, is seeking to close gaps in state law that currently allow drivers to use cell phones behind the wheel.

The legislation would expand Kentucky’s existing ban on texting while driving to prohibit nearly all hand-held use of mobile devices while operating a vehicle. Exemptions remain for GPS navigation, emergencies and law enforcement.

Higdon, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said the measure is aimed at preventing further tragedy on Kentucky roads.

“All it takes is one glance at a phone to shatter a family forever,” Higdon said. “This bill gives us the chance to prevent more heartbreak.”

The proposal is inspired by the 2021 death of 2-year-old Camberleigh Burns, who was killed in a crash caused by a distracted driver. Her mother, Alyssa Burns, has become a vocal advocate for reform and testified in support of the measure during an interim committee hearing last fall.

Distracted driving killed more than 3,300 people in the U.S. in 2022, according to federal data. Kentucky is one of the few remaining states without a comprehensive hand-held phone ban, despite all seven of its neighboring states adopting similar laws.

The final language reflects input from public safety officials and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Higdon said he hopes the bill will gain swift bipartisan support.

“This is about protecting lives,” he said. “We’ve waited long enough.”

Higdon, who served in the House from 2003 to 2009, then joined the Senate in 2009, announced in September 2025 that his term which ends in December will be his final one.