The existing law is being changed.  Re-read the link to the actual law.  The stuff about exceptions for this or that person are going away.  They are in [brackets that look like this].

https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2017R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2597/Introduced

What is left is the paragraph 2) that I have now posted twice.  

The reason for the change are two Oregon Court of Appeals cases; one  that reversed a conviction where a woman was holding her cell phone but the police officer couldn't  prove she was talking on it or texting with it.  This law change eliminates the 'talking or texting' requirement.  You hold it while in the car and you are guilty. 

The other was an accident case where a call came in 5 seconds before the accident. 

State v. Rabanales-Ramos, 273 Or App 228 (2015), 
Leonard v. Moran Foods, Inc., 269 Or App 112 (2015), 

http://bodyfeltmount.com/news/oregon-court-of-appeals-rules-on-driver-cell-phone-use/