Kentucky Mom Backs Phone-Down Bill

A Kentucky mother is calling on lawmakers to take action on distracted driving, saying the current system leaves families without meaningful accountability when a life is lost on the road.

In a statement released January 6, 2026, Alyssa Burns, the mother of Camberleigh Burns, voiced her support for Senate Bill 28, filed by Senator Jimmy Higdon and known as the Phone-Down Kentucky Act. Burns’ daughter was killed in 2022 in a crash caused by a distracted driver. Now, Burns says her pursuit of justice has evolved into a broader effort to prevent similar tragedies.

“I have asked that charges be filed against the person responsible for taking the life of my daughter, but it is painfully clear that our judicial system does not have the pieces in place to provide justice,” Burns said. “Therefore, justice for Camberleigh is represented through this bill and through any legislation that ensures no one has the power to take a life without facing consequences.”

Turning Grief Into a Call for Change

Burns’ statement is deeply personal, shaped by the permanent loss of her daughter and the realization that existing laws do not always deliver accountability when distracted driving results in death. She made clear that no legislation can undo what happened, but she believes Senate Bill 28 represents a meaningful step forward.

“I know this bill won’t bring Camberleigh back, but in a way, it keeps her name and memory alive,” Burns said. “She is not just a statistic on a piece of paper—she was a little girl with her whole life ahead of her.”

For Burns, the bill is not about policy alone. It is about consequences, awareness, and making sure that distracted driving is treated with the seriousness it deserves.

Why Senate Bill 28 Is Named the Phone-Down Kentucky Act

Camberleigh Burns was killed on October 28, 2022, a date that now defines how her mother remembers and honors her. Since that day, Burns has observed “28 Days of Cammie” each October, a tribute that reflects both love and loss.

The bill’s number carries that same meaning. Burns said Senate Bill 28 honors her daughter by keeping her story visible in the legislative process. October, once filled with excitement over Halloween and family traditions, has become a painful reminder of her worst nightmare.

“But with this challenge comes the hope of awareness—and a way for me to feel closer to Camberleigh during a time that will never be the same,” Burns said.

What the Phone-Down Kentucky Act Would Do

Senate Bill 28 is formally titled “AN ACT relating to operating a motor vehicle” and would update Kentucky law governing the use of mobile electronic devices while driving. The bill would repeal and reenact KRS 189.292 to define “mobile electronic device” and prohibit its use while operating a motor vehicle, while establishing specific exceptions. It would also amend KRS 189.294 and KRS 189.990 to align definitions and establish penalties.

Under the bill text, a “mobile electronic device” is defined as a cellular telephone, portable computer, global positioning system receiver, electronic game, or any substantially similar stand-alone electronic device used to communicate, display, or record digital content. The definition does not include citizens band radio, amateur or ham radio, commercial two-way radio or its functional equivalent, a subscription-based emergency communication device, or a prescribed medical device.

Restrictions Focused on Common Distracted Driving Behaviors

The proposal would prohibit drivers from holding or supporting a mobile electronic device with any part of the body while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway, while still allowing voice-based communication through an earpiece or a device worn on the wrist. It would also prohibit reading, composing, or transmitting texts—including text messages, email, application interaction, or website information—and watching moving images such as videos, movies, games, or video calls on a mobile electronic device while driving.

These provisions are aimed at reducing the behaviors most commonly associated with distracted driving crashes.

Exceptions Written Into the Law

The bill includes exceptions for situations where device use may be necessary or does not pose the same risk. The restrictions would not apply to drivers in vehicles that are lawfully parked or stopped, those reporting an accident, emergency, or safety hazard to a public safety official, or individuals performing certain occupational duties involving digital dispatch systems.

Additional exceptions apply to first responders performing official duties, limited navigation or call functions that do not require typing as long as the device is not held or supported by the driver, and equipment or services installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

Enforcement Limits and Privacy Protections

Senate Bill 28 also sets boundaries on enforcement. A peace officer would not be permitted to stop a driver for a violation unless the officer visually observed the violation based on a clear and unobstructed view.

The bill further states that an officer may not seize, search, view, or require forfeiture of a mobile electronic device because of a violation. It also prohibits searching a motor vehicle, operator, or passenger solely because of a violation, and bars custodial arrests based only on a violation of the distracted driving provisions.

Penalties and Use of Fine Revenue

Under the bill summary, a violation of KRS 189.292 or KRS 189.294 would carry a fine of one hundred dollars. The measure also specifies that money collected from fines would be deposited into the traumatic brain injury trust fund, the Kentucky trauma care system fund, and the veterans’ program trust fund.

The summary also states that the distribution would allocate thirty-five percent to the traumatic brain injury trust fund, thirty-five percent to the Kentucky trauma care system fund, and thirty percent to the veterans’ program trust fund.

A Courtesy Period Before Citations Begin

The legislation includes a transition period intended to focus on education rather than punishment. Between the effective date of the act and October 31, 2026, a peace officer would issue a courtesy warning instead of a uniform citation.

Where the Bill Stands Now

As of January 6, 2026, Senate Bill 28 was introduced in the Kentucky Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Committees. From there, it may be assigned to a committee for further consideration.

For Alyssa Burns, the outcome is about more than legislative progress. It is about ensuring her daughter’s life is remembered and that other families are spared the same loss. Senate Bill 28, she says, is a way to turn unimaginable grief into a lasting effort to protect lives on Kentucky’s roads.