Amendment H-8265 to SF 2426

Filed March 25, 2026 in the House by

In plain words

AI summary This amendment specifies that trucking companies can face a serious misdemeanor charge, a ten thousand dollar fine, and up to one year in jail for hiring drivers who lack English proficiency. It also requires officers to issue out-of-service orders to companies found violating these rules and mandates that the company and cargo owner be notified of the vehicle's location during a stop.¹

What it changes

1. Page 2, by striking lines 21 through 32 and inserting: “
2. a. A commercial motor carrier shall not employ or engage the services of a commercial driver, including as an independent contractor, who is not sufficiently proficient in the English language in accordance with 49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2). A carrier who violates this subsection commits a serious misdemeanor. The court shall impose a fine of ten thousand dollars and the court may order imprisonment not to exceed one year for each violation. b. In addition to any other penalty, a peace officer shall issue an out-of-service order to a commercial motor carrier if an investigation, safety audit, or normal business activity reveals any of the following: (1) That the carrier is allowing, or has allowed within the previous twelve months, a person who is not sufficiently proficient in the English language in accordance with 49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2) to operate a commercial motor vehicle. (2) That the carrier was issued an out-of-service order by another state or the federal motor carrier safety administration for allowing a person who is not sufficiently proficient in the English language in accordance with 49 C.F.R. §391.11(b)(2) to operate a commercial motor vehicle.”
3. By striking page 2, line 33, through page 3, line 14, and inserting: “
4. a. The commercial motor carrier who employed or engaged the services of a person, including as an independent contractor, who was operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of subsection 1 and the owner of any cargo being transported in the commercial vehicle shall be notified of the vehicle’s location by the officer who made the stop. The carrier or owner of the cargo may arrange for another person who is a commercial driver with sufficient proficiency in the English language to take possession of the vehicle or transfer the cargo to another vehicle, as applicable.”
5. Page 3, line 15, by striking “c.” and inserting “b.”
6. Page 3, line 20, after “department” by inserting “of public safety”

Official amendment (PDF) · In the Bill Book