TennesseeCommercial drivers would face English testing and related penalties
Beginning January 1, 2027, commercial drivers who fail the stated English standard could lose their licenses, and employers could face fines when vehicles keep operating.
What it does
Commercial drivers who do not meet the stated English standard would have their licenses suspended until they pass a Department of Safety test, with an exception for some drivers with hearing exemptions.
During a safety inspection, officers would remove a driver who fails the English standard from service and keep the vehicle stopped until a qualified substitute driver arrives.
Employers would pay a $500 fine for violating the English-language out-of-service rule and related license fees, while drivers would not receive points for that violation.
Argument forA Department-run English test and substitute-driver rule could help officers confirm that commercial drivers can understand safety information before driving.
Argument againstEmployers could face vehicle delays, license-related fees, and fines when a driver fails the English standard or cannot be replaced quickly.
More detail
The Department of Safety would test a commercial driver’s ability to read and speak English, and the commissioner would suspend the driver’s commercial license if the driver fails the required standard. This applies to commercial drivers who cannot use English well enough to speak with the public, understand traffic signs and signals, answer official questions, and complete required records. The suspension would not apply to a driver who cannot speak English sufficiently but can read and write English and has a hearing-standard exemption under federal rules. The driver must pass a Department of Safety test, rather than a test from a third party, to regain the license. The Department may begin developing the test when the act takes effect; the license rules apply beginning January 1, 2027.
An enforcement officer would order a driver out of service and stop the vehicle from operating until a substitute driver who meets the English standard is available. This applies when an officer makes the English-language finding during a safety inspection. The replacement driver must be able to read and speak English as required by federal commercial-driver rules. The order would not apply to a driver who cannot speak English sufficiently but can read and write English and has a documented hearing-standard exemption. The order affects the vehicle’s operation until the substitute driver is present. This provision applies beginning January 1, 2027; test development may begin when the act takes effect.
The employer would receive a citation and a $500 fine when the out-of-service rule is violated, while the violation would not add points to the driver’s record. The penalty is a Class C misdemeanor assigned to the driver’s employer for a violation of the English-language out-of-service subsection. The employer may also face civil penalties under the cited federal rule. The violation is treated as a nonmoving traffic violation, so points must not be added to the driver’s record. The employer would also be responsible for fines or fees connected to suspending or reinstating the driver’s commercial license. These penalty provisions apply beginning January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 18Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1087Latest
- Apr 20Comp. SB subst.
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026 4/16/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 20Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 16H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
- Apr 15Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
- Apr 15Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
- Apr 8Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
- Mar 25Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to the Drivers License Calendar
- Mar 18Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
- Mar 17Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/17/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 17Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeMinor
- Mar 11Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/17/2026
- Mar 10Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Transportation CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Transportation Committee 3/10/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
- Mar 3Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to 3/10/2026
- Feb 25Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
- Feb 17Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to Next Available Calendar
- Feb 11Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 2/17/2026
- Feb 2P2C, ref. to Transportation CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Assigned to s/c Transportation SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 22Intro., P1C.Minor
- Jan 21Filed for introductionIntroduced
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