This time next year, you may not be able to drive around Tennessee with your phone in your hand.

A bill introduced in the Tennessee House Monday proposes a ban on talking on hand-held devices while driving.

HB0044 was introduced by state Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, on Jan. 14, 2019.

As introduced, the bill expands the current offense for talking on hand-held devices while driving within marked school zones to talking on such devices on any road, highway, or street.

Last year, a law made it illegal to drive in an active school zone while talking on a hand-held cell phone in Tennessee. Drivers over age 18 can legally use a hands-free device, but those under cannot.

The bill states violation would be a Class C misdemeanor punishable only by a fine no more than $50.

It asks it take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

In July, Georgia put a similar rule into effect.