A new bill authored by State Sen. Eckhardt seeks to regulate wireless communication device use by drivers to enhance road safety in Texas, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Property Interests, State Finances, and Water category, introduced as SB 47 during the 89(2) legislative session on Wednesday, Aug. 20, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to flood projects financed through the flood infrastructure fund’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, titled “Allie’s Way,” aims to regulate the use of wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle in Texas. Specifically, it prohibits the use of portable wireless communication devices unless the vehicle is stopped outside a lane of travel. The bill outlines affirmative defenses for hands-free device usage, emergency contact, and devices used for video recording or broadcasting from vehicles. It places restrictions on drivers under 18 and school bus operators with minor passengers. The Texas Department of Transportation is tasked with posting signs at highway entry points informing drivers of the prohibition and potential fines. Additionally, this bill preempts local regulations regarding the use of wireless devices by vehicle operators. The act takes effect on Sept. 1, 2025, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date.
Sarah Eckhardt, a member of the Senate Committee on Administration, proposed another three bills during the 89(2) legislative session. She is also a member of the Senate Committee on Border Security, a member of the Senate Committee on Committee of the Whole Senate, a member of the Senate Committee on Nominations, and a member of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(2) | SB 45 | 08/19/2025 | Relating to the authority of a county to establish drainage utilities, impose drainage fees, and regulate land use for the purpose of flood management |
| 89(2) | SB 44 | 08/19/2025 | Relating to a study by the Department of Public Safety on emergency alert notification systems in this state |
| 89(2) | SB 32 | 08/15/2025 | Relating to powers and duties of the Texas Division of Emergency Management for a local state of disaster; enhancing a criminal penalty |
| 89(1) | SB 67 | 08/05/2025 | Relating to powers and duties of the Texas Division of Emergency Management for a local state of disaster; enhancing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | SB 3040 | 04/07/2025 | Relating to removal of territory from certain emergency services districts |
| 89(R) | SB 3008 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the transfer of public school students who are children of certain public servants |
| 89(R) | SB 2961 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to wrongful death actions arising from the death of an unborn child resulting from an abortion |
| 89(R) | SB 2795 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the regulation of digital reporting by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission |
| 89(R) | SB 2391 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to a study regarding the cost of child care in this state in comparison to family income |
| 89(R) | SB 2390 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the collection and reporting of data regarding race and ethnicity by the Texas Education Agency |
| 89(R) | SB 2389 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to entities authorized to provide water or sewer service |
| 89(R) | SB 2355 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 969 in Travis County as the Senior Police Officer Lewis “Andy” Traylor Memorial Highway |
| 89(R) | SB 2227 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to notification by the secretary of state when a person convicted of a felony may register to vote |
| 89(R) | SB 2157 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to deposits of funds into a court registry by a clerk of a justice court |
| 89(R) | SB 2156 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to firearm liability insurance for certain firearm owners; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | SB 1944 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the allocation of housing tax credits to developments within proximate geographical areas |
| 89(R) | SB 1916 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the use of a load management program to meet an electric utility’s energy efficiency goal |
| 89(R) | SB 1915 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to energy efficiency goals for electric utilities |
| 89(R) | SB 1914 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to consent by a county commissioners court for the creation of certain conservation and reclamation districts in the unincorporated area of the county |
| 89(R) | SB 1913 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to certain ad valorem tax-related studies conducted by the comptroller of public accounts |
| 89(R) | SB 1912 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to contracting with companies that boycott certain energy companies |
| 89(R) | SB 1911 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain stream segments, stream assessments units, and drainage areas |
| 89(R) | SB 1865 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the regulation and operation of electric bicycles |
| 89(R) | SB 1846 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to money awarded to providers of women’s health services and family planning services, including the repeal of prohibitions on the provision of those services |
| 89(R) | SB 1785 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the confinement in a county jail of certain defendants who are incompetent to stand trial and to the compensation to the county for the costs of that confinement and of the provision of jail-based competency restoration services |
| 89(R) | SB 1720 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee |
| 89(R) | SB 1584 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter and to the repeal of certain criminal offenses concerning the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail |
| 89(R) | SB 1510 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to General Land Office and Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs reviews of real property owned by the state |
| 89(R) | SB 1384 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to the provision by a regional mobility authority of financial assistance for transportation projects of governmental entities located in the area of the authority; providing authority to issue bonds |
| 89(R) | SB 1286 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the imposition of a sales tax on ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories to provide funding for the family violence program in the Health and Human Services Commission |
| 89(R) | SB 1285 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the protection of bats |
| 89(R) | SB 1216 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to permit the release into the air of natural gas from a gas well |
| 89(R) | SB 1159 | 02/07/2025 | Relating to the prohibited report or disclosure of certain health information by physicians and other health care providers |
| 89(R) | SB 1158 | 02/07/2025 | Relating to the repeal of the temporary tax reduction for certain high-cost gas |
| 89(R) | SB 1157 | 02/07/2025 | Relating to the flaring and venting of methane gas on land dedicated to the permanent university fund |
| 89(R) | SB 1155 | 02/07/2025 | Relating to prohibiting an increase in the rent of a tenant residing in a development supported with a low income housing tax credit allocation |
| 89(R) | SB 1111 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the inclusion of certain taxes in the comptroller’s report on the effect of certain tax provisions |
| 89(R) | SB 1110 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to an exemption from certain zoning requirements for developments receiving certain financial assistance administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
| 89(R) | SB 1088 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of reckless driving |
| 89(R) | SB 1072 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to allowing pregnant individuals to vote by mail if they will be in the second or third trimester on election day |
| 89(R) | SB 1071 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue derived from a hotel and convention center project |
| 89(R) | SB 1070 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the date on which a voter registration application becomes effective |
| 89(R) | SB 1013 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to the right-of-way of pedestrians and other sidewalk users |
| 89(R) | SB 981 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the use of school buses by public schools |
| 89(R) | SB 980 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the reporting of proceeds and property from asset forfeiture proceedings under the Code of Criminal Procedure |
| 89(R) | SB 979 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to voter registration at polling places |
| 89(R) | SB 978 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the repeal of the exception to the offense of unlawfully prohibiting an employee from voting |
| 89(R) | SB 977 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to electronic voter registration |
| 89(R) | SB 976 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the establishment of an advisory board to study surface water and groundwater interaction |
| 89(R) | SB 975 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to a study on the prevalence and tracking of heat-related deaths in this state |
