There wasn't time in the hour-and-a-half committee hearing to get to everyone who wanted to testify, but the Senate Transportation Committee has voted unanimously to send SB 1352, the bill to ban texting while driving, to the Senate's 14th Order for amendments. Sponsor John McGee, R-Caldwell, has amendments drafted that he said are part of a consensus that brought support to the bill from groups including law enforcement, the telephone industry and more. Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, said she came into the hearing thinking the bill wasn't needed because Idaho already has a law against inattentive driving, but the hearing convinced her the amended bill - which adds a section banning texting while driving to the existing inattentive driving law - was appropriate and deserved her support.

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