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Bill > HF2101


IA HF2101

IA HF2101
A bill for an act prohibiting the use of a language other than English for class C commercial driver's license examinations.


summary

Introduced
01/15/2026
In Committee
01/15/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

Under current law, the English language is the official language of the state of Iowa. All official documents, regulations, orders, transactions, proceedings, programs, meetings, publications, or actions taken or issued, which are conducted or regulated by, or on behalf of, or representing Iowa and all of its political subdivisions are required to be in the English language. However, there are exceptions to this requirement, including communications, examinations, and publications produced or utilized by driver’s license stations. This bill provides that the driver’s license examination exception does not apply to class C commercial driver’s license (CDL) examinations. The department of transportation (DOT) uses one of three designations to classify CDLs, described in 761 IAC 602.3(1) as class A CDL, class B CDL, and class C CDL. A class C CDL is valid for a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 26,001 pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. A class C CDL applies only to vehicles that are required to be placarded for hazardous materials or vehicles that are designed to transport 16 or more persons including the driver, or any redesigned or modified vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 or more pounds that has been redesigned or modified to transport less than 16 persons with disabilities. The bill also prohibits the DOT or designated third parties from using a language other than English to examine an applicant for a class C CDL.

AI Summary

This bill amends Iowa law to require that class C commercial driver's license (CDL) examinations be conducted exclusively in English, removing an existing exception that allowed driver's license stations to use other languages for examinations. A class C CDL is for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 26,001 pounds, or those towing a trailer under 10,000 pounds GVWR, but it also applies to vehicles that carry hazardous materials or are designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver. The bill specifically prohibits the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and any authorized third parties from using languages other than English when testing applicants for this specific type of commercial driver's license, reinforcing the state's official language policy for these particular examinations.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, referred to Transportation. H.J. 114. (on 01/15/2026)

bill text


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