require that any holder of a commercial driver license in this state must be proficient in the English language, and to provide a penalty therefor.

Stricter driver licensing with military test waivers

South Dakota commercial driver license holders must be proficient in English. License applicants must meet state residency rules, federal qualifications, knowledge and driving test standards, and entry-level training requirements. Learner's permit applicants must also meet residency and federal knowledge-test rules. The department must set English proficiency rules and give all knowledge and skills tests in English. Applicants with qualifying military driving experience can receive knowledge and driving test waivers under federal rules. Approved third parties can give skills tests under federal standards. The state cannot issue commercial licenses or learner's permits while driving privileges are disqualified, suspended, revoked, or canceled. Commercial license applicants must surrender licenses or permits from other states; South Dakota destroys them and notifies the issuing state. After a traffic citation or accident, officers must check commercial license and learner's permit holders' English proficiency, subject to the statutory officer exception. Drivers found unable to meet the English requirement can be cited and placed out of service. A first offense is a Class 2 misdemeanor; later offenses are Class 1 misdemeanors. The cited federal standards use January 1, 2026 versions; that is not a stated start date for the law.