Kansas lawmakers will try to put the brakes on texting while driving.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday agreed to introduce a bill on the issue during the 2010 legislative session that starts next month.

Chairman Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, said, “We need to have the discussion.”

The bill that Emler contemplates would make texting while driving a criminal offense with possible jail time.

More than 20 states have banned texting while driving as studies show drivers are many times more likely to contribute to an accident when texting and driving.

Emler said he got on the interstate last night behind a driver who was obviously texting. The driver was traveling around 45 mph for at least two miles while cars were passing by.

“It’s just wrong,” he said.