Hands-Tied Florida: Why the 2026 Legislative Effort Has Come to an End.
Hands-free driving advocates Demetrius Branca and Michelle Avola in the Capitol on Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix).
We have a difficult update to share regarding the push for a Hands-Free Florida law. Despite our best efforts and the championing of Senator Grall and Representative Blanco, the legislative path for this session has effectively closed.
While we entered the 2026 session with hope, two major factors have brought our progress to a halt:
1. The Senate Stalemate
The Senate committees tasked with oversight of SB 1152 have officially concluded their meeting calendars for the year. Without a scheduled hearing in these committees, the bill cannot advance to the floor for a vote. This procedural hurdle effectively ends the life of the Senate bill for the 2026 session.
2. A "Hands-Tied" Rewrite in the House
While the House version of the bill (HB 1241) did move forward, it was fundamentally rewritten in committee. The new version—described by some as a "baby step"—removed the core "Hands-Free" requirement and instead linked phone use to the Careless Driving statute.
As reported by the Florida Phoenix, advocates and families of victims have made it clear: this rewrite doesn't go far enough. By requiring an officer to first observe "careless driving" before addressing phone use, the bill leaves law enforcement’s hands tied. It fails to provide the preventative, bright-line rule that is necessary to change driver behavior and save lives.
Our Perspective: We Won't Settle for "Hands-Free in Name Only"
The Florida Bicycle Association remains committed to a Primary Hands-Free law. We believe that road safety should not be an "add-on" penalty to a crash that has already happened. We need a law that prevents the crash from occurring in the first place.
Because the current House proposal "takes the teeth" out of enforcement, we cannot support it as a substitute for a true Hands-Free law. We refuse to accept a 'watered-down' policy that treats the safety of people on bicycles as an afterthought. Florida deserves a bright-line rule that holds motorists accountable before a crash occurs.
What Happens Now?
Though the 2026 session did not deliver the results we worked for, our work does not stop here.
Education Continues: We will continue to educate the public and legislators on the life-saving difference between primary and secondary enforcement.
Building for 2027: We are already looking at the data and the feedback from this session to refine our strategy for next year.
Thank Our Sponsors: We are grateful to Senator Erin Grall and Representative Omar Blanco for their leadership. They stood up for road safety, and we will continue to work with them to get this right.
Thank you to every member who sent an email or made a call. Your voices were heard, and they are the reason this issue remains a priority in Tallahassee. We aren't giving up—because the safety of Florida’s cyclists and pedestrians is worth the wait.
Stay tuned for more updates on how we can continue to advocate for safer streets together.
