HB 844 — MTR VEHICLE/VIOLATIONS: Defines the term "school zone" relative to the operation of a motor vehicle while using a wireless telecommunication device (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HLSENROLLED 26RS-391 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

844 BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT MTRAN VEHICLE/VIOLATIONS:ACT To amend and reenactR.S.

Defines32:59(A)(5)andto theenact termR.S. "school zone" relative to the operation of a motor vehicle while using a wireless telecommunication device AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.

32:59(A)(5)and32:59(A)(6),relative to enactthe R.S.use of thewirelesstelecommunicationsdeviceswhileoperatingamotorvehicle;toprovide for definitions;

32:59(A)(6),relative to theuseof thewirelesstelecommunicationsdeviceswhileoperatingamotorvehicle;toprovide for definitions;

32:59(A)(5)is herebyamended and reenactedandreenactedandR.S. R.S.

* * * (5) "School zone" means anydesignated area adjacent to a public or private kindergarten through twelfth grade school or postsecondary institution, that is properly marked with official school warning or similar traffic control signage, including those provided in Chapter 7 of the Department of Transportation and Development Traffic Engineering Manual relating to schools, and that extends not less than two hundred fiftyfeetfifty feet prior to the beginning of the school zone.

Page(5) 1(6) of"Wireless 3telecommunications CODING:device" means a cellular telephone, atext-messagingdevice,apersonaldigitalassistant,astand-alonecomputerorother electronic device, or any other substantially similar portable wireless device that is readily removable from the vehicle and is used to write, send, or read text or data through manual input.

The term "wireless telecommunications device" shall not Page 1 of 2 CODING:

HLS 26RS-391 REENGROSSED HB NO.

844 (5)ENROLLED (6)mean "Wirelessany telecommunicationsdevice device"or meanscomponent athat cellularis telephone,permanently atext-messagingdevice,apersonaldigitalassistant,astand-alonecomputerorotheraffixed electronicto device,a ormotor anyvehicle, otheror substantiallya similardeviceusedhands-free,citizensbandradios,citizensbandradiohybrids,commercial portabletwo-wayradiocommunicationsdevices,two-wayradiotransmittersorreceiversused wirelessby devicelicensees thatof is readily removable from the vehicleFederal andCommunications isCommission usedin tothe write,Amateur send,Radio Service, or readelectronic textcommunication ordevices datawith througha manualpush-to-talk input.function.

The* term* "wireless* telecommunicationsSPEAKER device"OF shallTHE notHOUSE meanOF anyREPRESENTATIVES devicePRESIDENT orOF componentTHE thatSENATE isGOVERNOR permanentlyOF affixedTHE toSTATE aOF motorLOUISIANA vehicle,APPROVED: or a deviceusedhands-free,citizensbandradios,citizensbandradiohybrids,commercial two-wayradiocommunicationsdevices,two-wayradiotransmittersorreceiversused by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, or electronic communication devices with a push-to-talk function.

*Page *2 *of DIGEST2 ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeCODING: Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 844 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Fontenot Abstract:

Definestheterm"schoolzone"for purposes of the prohibition against the use of wireless telecommunications devices while operating a motor vehicle.

Establishes the boundary and times when a school zone is in effect.

Present law (R.S.

32:59) prohibits the operation of a wireless telecommunications device whileoperatingamotorvehicleunlessthevehicleislawfullystationary.

Providesenhanced penalties when a violation occurs in a school zone or highway construction zone.

Proposed law retains present law.

Proposed law defines "school zone" as any designated area adjacent to a public or private kindergartenthrough 12th gradeschoolorpostsecondaryinstitution thatis properlymarked with official school warning or similar traffic control signage, including signage provided in Chapter 7 of the Dept.

of Transportation and Development Traffic Engineering Manual relating to schools, and extending not less than 250 feet prior to the beginning of the zone.

Proposed law specifies that a school zone is in effect 60 minutes before school starts, 60 minutesafterschoolstarts,60minutesbeforeschoolends,and60minutesafterschoolends.

Present law provides a definition of "wireless telecommunications device".

Proposed law redesignates present law, but otherwise retains it.

(Amends R.S.

32:59(A)(5);

Adds R.S.

32:59(A)(6)) Page 2 of 3 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-391 REENGROSSED HB NO.

844 Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:

1.

Make a technical change.

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