House Bill 1817, also known as Senate Bill 1748, amends Tennessee law regarding commercial driver licenses by introducing new requirements related to English language proficiency. The bill mandates that the commissioner suspend the commercial driver license of any driver who is issued an out-of-service order or is found unable to read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to inquiries, and complete required reports. However, this suspension does not apply if the driver can read and write in English, is unable to speak it sufficiently, and has documentation of an exemption from hearing standards.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that a commercial driver license remains suspended until the driver passes a written English proficiency test administered by the department. It also establishes that if an enforcement officer determines a driver cannot communicate effectively in English during a safety inspection, they must issue an out-of-service order, preventing the vehicle from being operated until a qualified substitute driver is present. The bill includes provisions for employers, holding them liable for fines related to these suspensions and violations. The act will take effect 90 days after the commissioner of safety notifies the Tennessee Code Commission of relevant federal legislation or regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-50-403, 55-50-405, 65-15-111
Amended with SA0653 -- 03/19/2026: 55-50-403, 55-50-405, 65-15-111
Amended with SA0653, HA0700 -- 04/22/2026: 55-50-403, 55-50-405, 65-15-111