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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

SF 2426: Relating to sufficient English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions

Signed into law

What it does

This bill requires the department of transportation (DOT) to deny the issuance or renewal of a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP) if the person applying for or renewing the CDL or CLP fails to demonstrate proficiency in the English language, as required in the bill. The bill requires the DOT to examine the English language proficiency of each person who applies for initial issuance or renewal of a CDL or CLP. The examination must require the person to demonstrate the person is 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, pursuant to federal regulations.

Sponsors

Sen. Amy Sinclair (R)

Cost

Cost: up to $6,200

The fiscal impact of the correctional impact cannot be determined because the number of new convictions under the Bill cannot be estimated. The average State cost per serious misdemeanor is between $350 and $6,200. The estimated impact to the General Fund incl…

Lobbying · 3 for, 5 against

For: Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; Iowa Motor Truck Association; VALOR Iowa

Against: Building Bridges; Iowa Farmers Union; Iowa Insurance Associates; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska; Presentation Lantern Center

In plain words

  1. February 23, 2026Filed in the Senate
  2. February 23, 2026Approved by the Senate committee
  3. February 25, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  4. February 25, 2026Passed the Senate, 47–0
  5. February 26, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  6. March 31, 2026Took the place of HF 2700 on the House floor (the same legislation)
  7. March 31, 2026Passed the House, 68–24
  8. April 1, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  9. April 8, 2026Passed the Senate, 39–5
  10. April 15, 2026Passed the House, 73–22
  11. May 2, 2026Sent to the Governor
  12. May 2, 2026Signed into law
  13. May 27, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/SF2426