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119-hr-10620119th CongressWALLET

Barron’s Law

Sponsored By: Representative Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

Introduced

Summary

Tightens who can drive big trucks and forces carriers to stop evading safety rules. This bill would require work authorization and English proficiency for commercial drivers, increase penalties for employers and evasive carriers, and step up cross-border and cabotage enforcement.

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  • Drivers and applicants: Drivers would need to be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or otherwise authorized to work. States would have to verify authorization before issuing or renewing Commercial Driver's Licenses and add an authorization indicator to the CDL Information System.
  • Employers and carriers: Employers who knowingly hire ineligible drivers would face civil fines of at least $25,000 per offense and at least $100,000 if that employment causes serious injury or death. The bill also creates a federal crime for carriers that rebrand or hide ownership to evade sanctions.
  • States and enforcement: The bill would bar most domestic point-to-point runs by foreign carriers and set civil penalties up to $100,000 per vehicle per day for violations. DOT and DHS would run a cabotage tracking pilot, require cross-border data reports, and could withhold 10% of certain highway funds from noncompliant States.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New CDL work and English rules

If enacted, this would require States to verify that you are authorized to work before issuing or renewing a CDL or CLP. You would need to be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or otherwise authorized under Federal law to drive a commercial vehicle. If you apply for or renew a CDL or CLP, you would need to pass an English test approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that checks reading signs, following spoken instructions, and filling driver logs. The national CDL database would show a work-authorization indicator but would not store your immigration papers.

Tougher rules for carrier evasion

If enacted, the Department of Transportation would define and block "chameleon carriers" that change identity to avoid safety orders or penalties. DOT could deny registration to applicants whose registration was revoked within the prior three years, but it could waive denial for bona fide independent companies. DOT would collect extra identifying information and require truthful registration disclosures under penalty of perjury. Knowingly hiding relationships or making false statements to evade sanctions would carry fines up to $25,000 per violation and up to one year in jail.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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