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HB 461 · 2025 · House · Transportation Committee

English-only driver's license testing

AI-generated

relative to department of safety and department of motor vehicle training and testing materials.

Requires all driver's license examination materials and testing to be provided only in English or American Sign Language, bars the department of safety from acquiring non-English materials, and prohibits translation assistance during exams.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 15, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires all printed and digitally available driver's license examination-related materials, including the examination itself, be available and administered in the English language only. This bill also prohibits in-person or electronic translation assistance.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“All driver's license examinations and examination-related materials, whether in print or available digitally, shall be displayed or otherwise distributed in the English language only, except that American Sign Language shall be used for individuals who communicate using sign language.”
RSA 263:6-e
“The department of safety shall deny any and all requests, regardless of circumstance, for an examination in a language other than English or American Sign Language.”
RSA 263:6-e
“A person required to take any examination as a condition for license renewal or reinstatement shall be required to take the examination in English or American Sign Language.”
RSA 263:6-e
“The commissioner of the department of safety and the director of the division of motor vehicles shall not acquire any digitally produced or printed material described in paragraph I of this section that is in any language other than English or American Sign Language, notwithstanding contractual agreements made prior to the effective date of this section.”
RSA 263:6-e

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Thomas WalshRPrimeChair· Transportation
  • Rep. Ted GorskiRVice Chair· Transportation
  • Rep. Gregory HillRChair· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. Steven SmithRVice Chair· Rules

Public testimony

340 signed in online · 105 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

ForGeneral support without elaboration

AgainstBill is discriminatory/racist toward non-English speakers

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I fully support this Bill. This will accomplish 2 things. The first, this will minimize the cost to the State; which should be the objective of every expenditure Second, this will encourage others to learn English.…”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonsupports
“Ending state inspections is long overdue. Represent the people, not the bad auto repair shops. Good ones don't need state inspections for business, A good reputation brings them more business than they can handle.”
— Peter Sorrentino, Hamptonsupports
“Why would you do this? English is not the mandatory language of the country.…”
— Corinne Gordon, Salemopposes
“My name is Blossom Dodge, and I am here to strongly oppose HB 461, which would require all driver’s license examination materials—both printed and digital—to be available only in English. This bill is not just impractical—it is exclusionary.…”
— Blossom Dodge, Concordopposes
“What is the benefit to this bill? This bill is harmful to NH's diverse population. It has the potential to result in an increase in unlicensed drivers. It will not improve safety. It creates barriers to employment. This country was built by immigrants.…”
— Patricia Anastasia, Londonderryopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0471h9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0471hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0471hAdopted187–159How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    186–398% yea
    Democrats
    1–1561% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation1:32:56–1:36:063m 10slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation45:05–56:5911m 54slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0471h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:54:43–5:57:102m 27slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0471h — adopted, roll call 187-159; Amendment # 2025-0471h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingSenate Transportation1:06:06–1:09:052m 59slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Transportation HJ 3 P. 11
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 11:00 am LOB 203
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 10:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0471h 03/04/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 17 P. 45
  5. Mar 14, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0471h: AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 95
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0471h: MA RC 187-159 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 95
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 10
  9. Apr 8, 2025SenHearing: 04/08/2025, Room 101, LOB, 01:45 pm; SC 16
  10. May 15, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/15/2025; SC 21
  11. May 15, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/15/2025; SJ 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.