S 3013 Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.
Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025
To require all testing relating to the issuance or renewal of a commercial driver's license to be conducted only in English, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill requires that all testing related to commercial driver's license issuance and renewal be conducted only in English. The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to update federal regulations within 180 days to ensure all knowledge tests, entry-level driver training programs, and third-party provider tests are administered in English only. The bill also establishes a requirement that individuals hold a regular driver's license for at least one year before obtaining a commercial driver's license, with an exemption for those who already hold a CDL as of the bill's enactment. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to revoke a state's authority to issue commercial driver's licenses to non-residents if the state fails to comply with federal standards, including the English-only testing requirement.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR)
6 cosponsors
- Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN] (R-TN)
- Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] (R-OH)
- Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS] (R-MS)
- Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK] (R-OK)
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL)
- Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Tom Cotton’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $80,461
- APOLLO MANAGEMENT $25,600
- APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT $19,800
- BRODIE GENERATIONAL CAPITAL PARTNERS $13,200
- APOLLO $11,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Tom Cotton → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Oct 16, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Oct 16, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 16, 2025
Mr. Cotton (for himself, Mr. Hagerty, and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require all testing relating to the issuance or renewal of a commercial driver’s license to be conducted only in English, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commercial driver’s license.—The term “commercial driver’s license” has the meaning given the term in section 31301 of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Driver’s license.—The term “driver’s license” has the meaning given the term in section 31301 of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Non-domiciled cdl.—The term “non-domiciled CDL” means a commercial driver’s license issued by a State or other jurisdiction to an individual who is not domiciled in that State or jurisdiction, in accordance with part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(4) Non-domiciled clp.—The term “non-domiciled CLP” means a commercial learner’s permit issued by a State or other jurisdiction to an individual who is not domiciled in that State or jurisdiction, in accordance with part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(5) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO ADMINISTER DRIVING TESTS IN ENGLISH.
(a) In General.—Section 31305(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by inserting “(referred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’)” after “Secretary of Transportation”;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) and (8) as paragraphs
(8) and (9), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
“(7) shall require the tests to be administered only in English;”.
(b) Rulemaking.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate new, or revise existing, regulations, rules, and documents, as necessary, to ensure that all testing relating to the issuance or renewal of a commercial driver’s license is conducted only in English, including—
(1) any tests administered as part of an entry-level driver training program;
(2) any knowledge tests relating to the issuance or renewal of a commercial driver’s license; and
(3) any tests administered by a third-party training provider included on the training provider registry maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO HOLD DRIVER’S LICENSE BEFORE OBTAINING CDL.
(a) In General.—Subject to subsection (b), beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a commercial driver’s license may not be issued to an individual who has not held a driver’s license for a period of at least 1 year before the date on which the commercial driver’s license is issued.
(b) Exemption.—Subsection (a) does not apply to an individual who holds a commercial driver’s license as of the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. REVOCATION OF AUTHORITY.
The Secretary may revoke the authority of any State or other jurisdiction to issue non-domiciled CDLs or non-domiciled CLPs if the Secretary determines that the State or other jurisdiction is not in compliance with all applicable Federal standards relating to that authority, including the provisions of this Act and any regulations promulgated or revised under this Act. <all>
Comments