New Hampshire HB 1252: requiring the department of safety to only administer tests for commercial driver's licenses in English and prohibiting the assistance of an interpreter during such tests.

Bill Text

HB 1252 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

12Mar2026... 1010h

05/07/2026 1736s

2026 SESSION

 26-2768

 12/06

HOUSE BILL 1252

AN ACT requiring the department of safety to only administer tests for commercial driver's licenses in English and prohibiting the assistance of an interpreter during such tests.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gorski, Hills. 2; Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10; Rep. Labrie, Hills. 2; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill:

 I. Codifies the recent enforcement of a federal requirement that the administration of the skills test for commercial driver's licenses only be conducted in English and that interpreters are not permitted for the administration of the skills test.

 II. Extends the same requirements for the administration of the knowledge test for commercial driver's licenses. 

 III. Directs the department of safety to adopt rules regarding the requirement and to provide notice and an opportunity for hearing to current licensees required to pass an examination in English in order to maintain their license.

 IV. Provides an exemption for the use of interpreters for the knowledge and skills test where such individual or licensee qualifies or previously qualified for a federal exemption pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 391.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12Mar2026... 1010h

05/07/2026 1736s 26-2768

 12/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT requiring the department of safety to only administer tests for commercial driver's licenses in English and prohibiting the assistance of an interpreter during such tests.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Commercial Driver License Qualification Standards; Testing Requirements; English Proficiency. Amend RSA 263:87 to read as follows: 

 263:87 Commercial Driver License Qualification Standards. No person shall be issued a commercial driver license unless that person is a resident of the state of New Hampshire and has passed a knowledge and skills test for driving a commercial motor vehicle. The knowledge and skills test shall comply with minimum federal standards established by federal regulation, as enumerated in 49 C.F.R. part 383, [sub-parts] subparts G and A, in addition to other requirements imposed by state law or federal regulation. The tests shall be prescribed and conducted by the department. Interpreters are prohibited during the administration of both the knowledge and skills tests, with the exception of federally mandated exemptions under 49 C.F.R. part 391. Applicants for a commercial driver's license must be able to understand and respond to verbal commands and instructions in English by a skills test examiner. The knowledge test shall be written and administered in English only. Neither the applicant nor the examiner may communicate in a language other than English during both the knowledge and skills tests. The department may authorize a person, including an agency of this or another state, an employer, a private driver training facility, or other private institution, or a department, agency, or instrumentality of local government, to administer the skills test in accordance with 49 C.F.R. part 383. 

 2 New Paragraph; Commercial Licensing; Rulemaking Authority. Amend RSA 263:98 by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraph: 

 XI. The procedure and administration of the commercial driver's license examination requirement of obtaining a passing score on both the knowledge and skills tests in English and without the assistance of an interpreter. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 26-2768

 03/20/2026

HB 1252- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-1010h)

AN ACT requiring the department of safety to only administer tests for commercial driver's licenses in English and prohibiting the assistance of an interpreter during such tests.

FISCAL IMPACT:

 The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

 Department of Safety