Lawmakers considering bill making texting while driving illegal

Texas lawmakers are considering a bill to make texting while driving illegal. A hearing on the controversial ban is scheduled for this morning at the Capitol.

The Senate State Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on House Bill 80, also known as the Alex Brown Memorial Act. It would put a statewide texting while driving ban in place. Some cities already have similar laws in place, including Austin.

The bill is named after Alex Brown, a teenager who died in a car crash when she was texting while driving.

Brown's family is expected to be at the Capitol along with other people who've lost loved ones in texting while driving crashes.

They'll speak at the hearing, trying to get lawmakers to move forward with this bill.

It's failed twice before because some believe it's government overreach. But supporters hope the third time's a charm and that the proposal will move forward before the legislative session ends next month.

The hearing is set for 9:00 a.m. at the Capitol and it is open to the public.

If passed, Texas would join 44 other states with similar texting while driving bans.