Legislation introduced in New Jersey this week with bipartisan sponsorship would counteract an appeals court ruling that found a basis of civil liability in text messaging a motorist who winds up in a wreck.

One bill, A-4410, provides that anyone who sends a text message “shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from a motor vehicle accident caused by, either directly or indirectly, the message recipient’s unlawful use of a hand-held wireless telephone while driving[.]”