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119-s-3013119th CongressWALLET

Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Introduced

Summary

English-only testing for all commercial driver's license exams would be required, and the bill would also impose a one-year prior license rule and allow sanctions for states that issue non-domiciled CDLs.

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  • Aspiring commercial drivers would need to have held a regular driver's license for at least 1 year before receiving a CDL. Individuals who already hold a CDL on the bill's enactment date are exempt.
  • States and third-party training providers would have to administer all CDL-related tests only in English, covering entry-level driver training tests and knowledge exams. The Transportation Secretary must issue new or revised regulations within 180 days.
  • The Transportation Secretary could revoke a state's authority to issue non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses or commercial learner's permits if the state fails to comply with the law and the rules it creates.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

CDL tests only in English

If enacted, all testing for issuing or renewing a commercial driver's license would be given only in English. The Transportation Secretary would have 180 days after enactment to write or revise rules and documents to make this happen. The rule would cover entry-level training tests, CDL knowledge tests, and tests given by third-party providers listed on the FMCSA registry.

One-year wait for new CDLs

If enacted, you would need to have held any State driver's license for at least 1 year before getting a new commercial driver's license. This rule would start on the law's enactment date. People who already had a CDL on the enactment date would be exempt from this wait.

States could lose non-domiciled CDL authority

If enacted, the Transportation Secretary could revoke a State's authority to issue non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses and learner permits. Revocation could follow a finding that the State is not following federal standards, including this bill and rules made under it. This enforcement power would take effect on enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 10/16/2025

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 10/16/2025

  • Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 10/20/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 10/21/2025

  • Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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