PHOENIX — Texting and driving will be a topic of discussion in the Arizona Senate on Wednesday.

Forty-four states have outlawed texting and driving. State Sen. Steve Farley has proposed a law that would make Arizona the next to ban the act.

“It is about time that we join the rest of the gang and realize how dangerous driving while texting is,” he said.

Farley said the issue should be “called out just like drunk driving” because drivers who are texting are 2,300 percent more likely to get in a wreck.

The senator proposed a similar law in January 2007. He was the first legislator in the country to propose a texting and driving ban but Arizona lawmakers rejected the bill.

“This isn’t a partisan issue, this isn’t a red or a blue thing, it’s about saving lives,” he said.