North Carolina Senate receives hands-free driving proposal from Sen. Corbin

State Sen. Kevin Corbin has introduced a bill in the North Carolina Senate designed to curb the use of handheld devices while driving and promote statewide road safety, the North Carolina State Senate reports.

Labeled SB 797 and filed on April 21 for the 2025 regular session, the measure is listed under the short title: ‘Hands Free NC.’

Presented below is our analysis, referencing the bill text itself, with added explanations to clarify its content.

The Hands Free NC Act would make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle while holding a wireless communication device, sending texts, or viewing and transmitting video. More stringent restrictions apply for drivers under age 18. The bill allows exceptions during emergencies, when certain public safety or utility employees are on duty, and for commercial operators using two-way radios. It specifies that built-in vehicle systems are permissible. Offenses would carry fines between $100 and $200 that escalate for repeat infractions, along with additional insurance points. School bus drivers would face higher penalties. The bill would override local laws on device usage, update requirements for driver education and licensing, allocate $100,000 for an awareness campaign, and take effect Dec. 1, 2026, with only warnings issued during the first six months.

Among the three lawmakers sponsoring this bill, Jim Burgin was the most active, sponsoring 71 bills in the 2025 regular session.

All bills in North Carolina go through a multi-step legislative process prior to enactment. Legislation begins when a lawmaker files a bill, after which it is sent to committee. The bill must pass three readings in both legislative chambers. If amendments are made after initial passage, both chambers must agree to the changes. Passage of an identical bill by both chambers sends it to the governor, who then has 10 days (or 30 days if the legislature is out of session) to sign it, veto it, or permit it to become law unsigned.

Corbin holds a BS from Appalachian State University, earned in 1983.

Corbin, a Republican, started his tenure in the North Carolina State Senate in 2021, succeeding the previous senator for the 50th district, Jim Davis.