Handheld personal communications devices; holding devices while driving a motor vehicle, penalty.
Summary
Holding handheld personal communications devices whiledriving a motor vehicle. Prohibits any person from holding a handheldpersonal communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Current lawprohibits (i) the reading of any email or text message and manually enteringletters or text in such a device as a means of communicating and (ii) holding apersonal communications device while driving in a work zone. The bill expandsthe exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that arebeing held and used (a) as an amateur radio or a citizens band radio or (b) forofficial Department of Transportation or traffic incident management services.The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021. This billincorporates HB 377, HB 387, HB 512, and HB 1672 and is identical to SB 160.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2020
Committee Review
Feb 2020
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2020
Senate Passage
Feb 2020
Signed into Law
Mar 2020
Introduced Jan 7, 2020
Signed Mar 10, 2020
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
41
Key actions
12
Committee
11
Mar 10, 2020
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 250 (effective 1/1/21)
executive
Feb 18, 2020
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (29-Y 9-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2020
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (30-Y 7-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2020
Upper · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB874S1
upper
Feb 18, 2020
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20108193D-S1
upper
Feb 13, 2020
Upper · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute (11-Y 4-N)
upper
Feb 6, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
upper
Feb 5, 2020
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (72-Y 24-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2020
Lower · Passed
Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB874H1
lower
Feb 4, 2020
Lower · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20106899D-H1
lower
Jan 30, 2020
Lower · Passed
Reported from Transportation with substitute (19-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2020
Lower · Passed
House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
lower
Jan 27, 2020
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 15, 2020
Committee
Assigned Transportation sub: Motor Vehicles
lower
Jan 7, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
Jan 7, 2020
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20101920D
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 874
Scope: VA
Hi! I can help you understand HB 874. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline