Relating to English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and commercial carriers, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 16, 2026
Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

Under federal law, a person who is operating a commercial motor vehicle (commercial driver) must be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records. This bill relates to the enforcement of this federal regulation. The bill requires commercial drivers to have sufficient English language proficiency, makes commercial carriers liable for violations involving commercial drivers that do not have sufficient English language proficiency, and authorizes state patrol officers to inspect a commercial driver to determine whether the driver complies with federal English language proficiency requirements.

Read the full explanation

A commercial carrier who violates the bill is subject to a $100,000 civil penalty for each violation, imposed and collected by the department of transportation (DOT) and deposited in the road use tax fund. Repeat violators are subject to enhanced penalties, including restrictions placed on where a commercial driver is authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle. A commercial driver may be subject to an out-of-service order for violating the bill.208 for violating the out-of-service order. The bill prohibits inferences from being made based on a commercial driver’s nationality, race, ethnicity, accent, or state of licensure. A person may have standing to bring a private right of action against a commercial carrier who violates the bill, as described in the bill. The DOT is required to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill and must publish a report on enforcement of the bill. By operation of law, it is a simple misdemeanor for a person to do an act forbidden or to fail to perform an act required by the bill. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§321.187B

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

2 for · 1 against · 0 undecided · Who →