April 16, 2025 — The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to review a new bill today that would impose stricter penalties on individuals who commit careless driving resulting in serious injury or death. Lawmakers will hear public testimony and vote on the bill’s advancement later in the day.
Under current state law, a driver who causes bodily injury through careless driving is charged with a class 1 misdemeanor. The proposed legislation seeks to expand the consequences, particularly in cases involving serious bodily injury or fatalities.
The bill proposes that careless driving resulting in death be reclassified from a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense to a class 6 felony. It would also grant courts the authority to suspend the offender’s license for up to one year. In cases where multiple people are killed, each death would be considered a separate offense.
Another major provision would require law enforcement officers to conduct drug and alcohol testing when a death results from careless driving. A refusal to submit to testing would be considered evidence of a violation.
Lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the issue are expected to weigh in during today’s committee hearing, which could determine whether the bill proceeds to the full Senate for further debate.
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