Kansas drivers now have another reason to put down their phones when entering a school or construction zone. 

A new state law, Senate Bill 366, took effect July 1 and prohibits drivers from using a mobile phone without hands-free technology in active school and road construction zones. The law allows hands-free functions, including voice-to-text, navigation and certain tasks that could otherwise be performed through a vehicle's entertainment system, according to the official text of Senate Bill 366. 

The change comes as highway construction continues across the state and students head back to school, putting more workers, children and pedestrians near moving traffic, according to KSDOT. 

State officials say the law is intended to reduce distractions in areas where drivers may be traveling close to people working or walking nearby. 

"Removing the distraction of handheld devices in construction and school zones is an effort to improve safety in locations where vehicles and pedestrians or construction workers can be in close contact with one another," Gary Herman, KDOT Behavioral Safety Section Manager, said. "The safety of people in these zones must be a top priority." 

When Does the Law Apply? 

The restrictions do not apply to every road near a school or every stretch of highway under construction. 

Under the law, the school-zone restriction applies when a reduced speed limit is being enforced. In road construction zones, the restriction applies when workers are present and signs are posted at the beginning of the zone alerting drivers to their presence, according to the Kansas Legislature's enrolled SB 366. 

KDOT and KSDE are using similar definitions in their public reminder about the new law, describing an active construction zone as one where workers are present and signs mark the beginning and end of the work zone. An active school zone is an area where reduced speed limits are in effect, according to the agencies. 

That means the restrictions are tied to specific conditions in school and construction zones rather than simply applying to every roadway near a school or construction project, according to the Kansas Legislature's SB 366 page. 

"People are walking and working in these areas just a few feet from passing vehicles," Keith Dreiling, KSDE State Director of the School Transportation Safety Unit, said. "We urge drivers to use extra caution and remain aware of their surroundings when traveling through school and construction zones." 

What Drivers Can and Cannot Do 

The law specifically prohibits using a mobile telephone without a hands-free device while operating a vehicle in the designated zones, according to the official enrolled legislation. 

Drivers can still use hands-free technology for navigation, GPS functions and voice-based communications that are automatically converted into written messages, according to the law. 

The legislation also includes several exceptions. The restriction does not apply to law enforcement officers or emergency service personnel using a device within the scope of their duties. It also does not apply when a vehicle is stopped at a location where it can safely and lawfully remain stationary, according to the Kansas Legislature's version history for SB 366. 

The law also contains an exception for using a phone to report an emergency or illegal activity, according to the Kansas Legislature's supplemental note on SB 366. 

Kansas lawmakers included additional enforcement provisions as well. Holding a mobile telephone can create a rebuttable presumption that a driver violated the law, according to the supplemental note. 

Warnings First, Fines Later 

Kansas drivers will have time to get used to the new requirement before monetary penalties take effect. 

Law enforcement officers are issuing warning citations for violations through June 30, 2027. After that warning provision expires on July 1, 2027, violations can result in a $60 fine, according to the official SB 366 legislation and the Kansas Governor's Office announcement. 

The Kansas Governor's Office said Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bipartisan legislation on April 3, 2026. Kelly said the measure takes steps to make communities safer by helping keep drivers distraction-free while protecting schoolchildren, pedestrians and construction workers, according to the Governor Kelly's announcement on SB 366. 

The bill also received unanimous support in one Senate vote, with all 40 senators voting in favor and none voting against it, according to the Kansas Legislature's official vote record. 

A Targeted Approach to Distracted Driving 

The new law focuses specifically on school and construction zones, two places where Kansas officials say drivers need to pay particular attention to their surroundings. 

Sen. Ethan Corson called the legislation a "commonsense action" to address inattention behind the wheel when the bill was signed into law, according to the Governor's Office. 

For motorists, the biggest change is straightforward: phones can still be used through hands-free technology, but drivers cannot manually use them while traveling through covered school and construction zones.