The Texas Senate has approved a beefed-up texting while driving ban that preempts existing local ordinances against distracted driving in 45 cities statewide.
In May, the Republican-controlled Legislature made Texas one of the country’s last states to outlaw texting while driving. But Gov. Greg Abbott convened a special session and called for superseding a “patchwork” of previous local rules.
The July 26, 19-12 vote sends the measure to the state House.
The Legislature first approved a statewide texting while driving ban in 2011, but then-Gov. Rick Perry vetoed it.
The issue won momentum after a March church bus crash killed 13 people. Federal investigators say the driver of the pickup truck that hit the bus was checking for a text when the crash occurred.
Topics Texas Personal Auto Politics
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Nebraska Fires Burn Grazing Lands, Threaten Plans to Grow US Cattle Herd 
The Luxury Life of British Expats in Dubai Faces a Reality Check 
Orlando Apartment Complex Evacuated After Cracks Found on All Five Floors 
Florida Man Faked Brain Injury for Years in Attempt to Gain $6M in Insurance 
