HR 5767119th CongressIn Committee

Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025

Introduced: Oct 17, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (R-Kentucky)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025 would require that all testing related to obtaining or renewing a commercial driver’s license (CDL) be conducted only in English. The bill defines key terms, directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue or revise regulations within 180 days to enforce English-only testing (covering knowledge tests, entry-level driver training program tests, and tests given by third-party providers on the FMCSA registry), and adds a new licensing requirement: starting from enactment, a CDL may not be issued to someone who has not held a regular driver’s license for at least one year. It also gives the Secretary authority to revoke a state’s ability to issue non-domiciled CDLs or non-domiciled CLPs if the state is not in compliance with federal standards, including this act. The overall goal is to standardize CDL testing through English-only assessments and tighten eligibility before CDL issuance, with enforcement through federal-state oversight.

Key Points

1English-only testing: The tests used for CDL issuance or renewal must be administered exclusively in English, including knowledge tests, entry-level driver training program tests, and tests administered by third-party providers on the FMCSA registry.
2Rulemaking timeline: Within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must update or issue regulations and other documents to implement the English-only testing requirement.
3New licensing prerequisite: From enactment onward, a CDL cannot be issued to someone who has not held a regular driver’s license for at least one year prior to CDL issuance (with an exemption for those who already hold a CDL as of enactment).
4Federal-state enforcement: The Secretary can revoke a state’s authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs or non-domiciled CLPs if the state is not in compliance with federal standards, including this act and related regulations.
5Definitions: The bill provides specific definitions for “commercial driver’s license,” “driver’s license,” “non-domiciled CDL,” and “non-domiciled CLP,” and clarifies who is referred to as the “Secretary.”

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Individuals seeking or renewing a CDL, particularly non-English speakers and those with limited English proficiency, due to the English-only testing requirement.- States and jurisdictions that issue non-domiciled CDLs/CLPs and manage CDL test programs.Secondary group/area affected- Third-party CDL test providers and FMCSA-regulated testing registries, which would be affected by the English-only testing mandate and the expanded rulemaking.- Employers in the trucking industry and industries relying on CDLs, who may experience changes in the pool of eligible CDL holders and in driver qualification processes.Additional impacts- Administrative and compliance costs for states to align with English-only testing and the one-year licensing prerequisite.- Potential access barriers for immigrants or workers who primarily operate in languages other than English, raising civil rights and equal access considerations.- Federal-state relations and funding considerations if states face removal of authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs/CLPs due to non-compliance.- Overall effects on safety and training practices, given the stricter testing and longer pre-CDL licensing timeline.Sponsor and current legislative status are listed as introduced with no further details provided here. The bill language indicates it would significantly alter CDL testing language requirements and introduce a new licensing prerequisite, along with a mechanism to enforce compliance across states.

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