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Mo. Senate gives first-round approval to extend texting ban

(via Flickr/OregonDOT)
(via Flickr/OregonDOT)

The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to legislation that would expand the texting-while-driving ban to all motorists, not just those ages 21 or younger.

Although the bill passed, some senators opposed to the ban attached two amendments that have nothing to do with texting-while-driving, in an effort to kill the bill.  But both were vehicle-related, so supporters changed the bill's title to include various topics related to motor vehicles. 

Democrat Ryan McKenna of Jefferson County is the bill's sponsor:

"This was the hardest it's been for me to get it passed...there was quite a bit of opposition from some new senators that came over from the House that I didn't anticipate until we got on the floor today," McKenna said. 

The bill faces one more Senate vote before moving to the Missouri House, which killed the bill last year. 

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.