Relating to sufficient English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions

What it does: On the version voted Apr 15, 2026: Requires commercial driver's license applicants to pass a state English proficiency test starting by March 2027, makes driving a commercial vehicle without sufficient English a serious misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine, and fines carriers $10,000 per such driver they use. (AI-written summary of the bill; the official record shows the exact version voted)

Question before the chamber: Shall amendment H–8273, to amendment H–8265, be adopted?

Amends the bill to make employing commercial drivers lacking sufficient English proficiency a simple misdemeanor with a $10,000 scheduled fine per violation, instead of a serious misdemeanor with up to one year in jail (via an amendment to amendment H-8265). (AI-written)

Read the official record ↗