House Bill No. 2263 aims to enhance road safety by prohibiting the use of hand-held cellular telephones and electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle in designated school zones and road construction areas. The bill defines key terms such as "cellular telephone," "text message," and "electronic communication device," and establishes that it is unlawful to manually compose, send, or read text messages while driving in these areas. Violators of this law would face a fine of up to $100. However, exceptions are made for hands-free technology and emergency communications.

Additionally, the bill empowers municipalities to enact their own ordinances that align with the state law, ensuring that penalties do not exceed those outlined in the bill. Importantly, the Department of Public Safety is prohibited from assessing points on a driver's record for violations of this law, and law enforcement officers are restricted from confiscating devices or extracting information without consent, unless specific legal conditions are met. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.