CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – State lawmakers will consider once again whether to restrict chatting on cell phones while driving.

House Bill 795 would bar the use of handheld cell phones, but allow drivers to call on hands-free phones, even though a recent University of Utah study found that both are equally distracting.

The bill contains exceptions for police, firefighters and other emergency responders. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

A similar bill was introduced in 2000 by the late state Rep. Robert Milligan, a Merrimack Republican, but defeated after intense lobbying by the telecommunications industry.

However, a negligent driving law sponsored by Milligan passed in 2002. That allows police to cite drivers for any activity – whether talking on a cell phone, changing CDs, reading or applying make-up – that causes them to break other driving rules. Only three states have such laws.

Two years ago, the Legislature considered a bill to ban cell phone use by teenage drivers, but it was defeated.

State police report distracted drivers are the second-leading cause of accidents in New Hampshire, after speeding. State data show that of 166 fatal crashes in 2005, drunken driving was a factor in 60 and distracted driving led to 15.