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HB 1252 · 2026 · House · Transportation Committee

English-only commercial driver's license tests

AI-generated

(New Title) requiring the department of safety to only administer tests for commercial driver's licenses in English and prohibiting the assistance of an interpreter during such tests.

Requires commercial driver's license knowledge and skills tests to be administered only in English without an interpreter, with an exemption for individuals who qualify under a federal exemption, and directs the department of safety to adopt implementing rules.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Codifies the recent enforcement of a federal requirement that the administration of the skills test for commercial driver's licenses only be conducted in English and that interpreters are not permitted for the administration of the skills test. II. Extends the same requirements for the administration of the knowledge test for commercial driver's licenses. III. Directs the department of safety to adopt rules regarding the requirement and to provide notice and an opportunity for hearing to current licensees required to pass an examination in English in order to maintain their license. IV. Provides an exemption for the use of interpreters for the knowledge and skills test where such individual or licensee qualifies or previously qualified for a federal exemption pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 391.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“No person shall be issued a commercial driver license unless that person is a resident of the state of New Hampshire and has passed a knowledge and skills test for driving a commercial motor vehicle.”
RSA 263:87
“The knowledge and skills test shall comply with minimum federal standards established by federal regulation, as enumerated in 49 C.F.R. part 383, [sub-parts] subparts G and A, in addition to other requirements imposed by state law or federal regulation.”
RSA 263:87
“Applicants for a commercial driver's license must be able to understand and respond to verbal commands and instructions in English by a skills test examiner.”
RSA 263:87
“Neither the applicant nor the examiner may communicate in a language other than English during both the knowledge and skills tests.”
RSA 263:87

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ted GorskiRPrimeVice Chair· Transportation
  • Rep. Thomas WalshRChair· Transportation
  • Rep. Brian LabrieRClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRChair· Transportation

Also: Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

352 signed in online · 63 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

ForDrivers should be able to read road signs for public safety

AgainstDiscriminatory toward immigrants and non-English speakers

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is a common sense public safety bill. We should not facilitate the ability to drive approximately 80k pound vehicles here when they can't read the road signs. Any state that does so should be held liable for the inevitable issues.”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonsupports
“How is this enforced? What prevents an examiner from cheating for fear of applicant not understanding his commands while the car is moving?”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“There is no need to deny people the ability to take a commercial driver's license skills test because English is not their first language. These people are trying to better themselves and support our transportation needs.…”
— James Mason, Hancockopposes
“This bill is slap yourself on the back, make some headlines, grandstanding. When this language requirement means far fewer waste management and other municipal service drivers who will do these needed jobs? People need jobs, the state needs that work.…”
— Hannah Eldridge, DOVERopposes
“There is no official language of the United States. People who speak all languages should have the same opportunities in the Live Free or Die state.”
— Veronica Joyce, Manchesteropposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation25:13–35:5210m 39slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1010h (NT) — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:17:25–5:18:301m 5slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1010h — adopted, roll call 194-156; Amendment # 2026-1010h (NT) — adopted, division 184-158; FLAM # 2026-1104h (NT) (Rep. Coker) — failed, division 169-177
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Transportation45:08–52:117m 3slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:10:24–5:17:146m 50slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1736s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1736s — adopted, roll call 14-8; Committee Amendment # 2026-1736s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:06:07–4:07:141m 7slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1736s (Rep. T. Walsh) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 12
  2. Mar 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2026 10:20 am GP 234
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 11:00 am GP 234
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1010h (NT) 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 10 P. 74
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1010h (NT): AA DV 184-158 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 74
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1104h (NT) (Rep. Coker): AF DV 169-177 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 74
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1010h: MA RC 194-156 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 76
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 7
  10. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 14
  11. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1736s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
  12. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1736s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  13. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1736s, RC 14Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  14. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1736s (Rep. T. Walsh): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 22
  15. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  16. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  17. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 221; eff. 8/31/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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