The Dalilah Law
Sponsored By: Senator Banks, Jim [R-IN]
Introduced
Summary
Restrict CDL access to citizens and certain visa holders. This bill would sharply limit who can get or keep a commercial driver's license by tying eligibility to U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or a few named nonimmigrant work visas. It would also require English-language testing and let the federal government withhold funds from states that do not comply.
Show full summary
- Workers who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents would face new barriers. The bill bars issuance or renewal of a commercial driver’s license to people outside those groups except certain nonimmigrant visa holders. It adds a lifetime prohibition on operating a commercial motor vehicle while unauthorized with two narrow exceptions for specific visas or travel authorizations.
- Current license holders must be recertified. States would have 180 days to verify that each covered license holder meets status rules, is proficient in English under 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2), and passed required exams in English. Licenses must be revoked if recertification is missed or standards are not met.
- States risk losing federal transportation funding. Starting in the first fiscal year after the recertification deadline the Secretary may withhold all "covered funding" if a state misses recertifications, fails to revoke ineligible licenses, issues licenses to ineligible people, or gives covered exams in languages other than English.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
New CDL limits for noncitizens
If enacted, this bill would bar many noncitizens from getting or keeping a commercial driver's license. Only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or certain named nonimmigrant visa holders with a valid, unexpired visa would be eligible. The Secretary would impose a lifetime ban on operating a commercial motor vehicle if a person drove while not meeting those status rules. Two narrow exceptions would apply: one specific nonimmigrant visa class with a valid visa, and people with a valid travel authorization plus a valid admission record.
States must recheck all CDL holders
If enacted, States would have to recertify every current commercial driver's license holder within 180 days of enactment. The check would confirm immigration/status (citizen, lawful permanent resident, or specified nonimmigrant with a valid visa), English proficiency per 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2), and that required CDL tests were passed in English. States must revoke any covered license for people who miss the 180-day recertification or who fail the status, English-proficiency, or English-testing requirements. The Secretary could withhold all federal "covered funding" from States that miss the recertification or revocation deadlines, issue prohibited licenses after enactment, or give exams in languages other than English; some withholdings start the first fiscal year after the recertification deadline, and some start the first fiscal year after enactment.
Definitions for CDLs and funding
If enacted, the bill would define key terms used by the other rules. "Covered examination" would include the CDL knowledge test, the CDL skills test, and any other test needed to get, keep, or upgrade a covered license. "Covered funding" would mean any federal money the Secretary can give a State or for projects in that State. "Covered license or authorization" would include commercial driver's licenses, including non-domiciled CDLs defined by 49 C.F.R. part 383. These definitions take effect on enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
MO • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov