Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
HF 828 – Commercial Driver’s Licenses, Testing Fees (LSB1747HZ.2)
Staff Contact: Austin Brinks (515.725.2200) austin.brinks@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – Final Action
Description
House File 828 assesses fees for the driving skills testing required to obtain a Commercial
Driver’s License (CDL). The Bill allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to charge a
$25 fee to schedule the pre-trip inspection test. The Bill also allows counties that provide CDL
testing to charge $25 for each of the three driving skills tests required for the issuance of a CDL.
These fees are nonrefundable, and fees collected by the DOT are allocated to the Statutory
Allocations Fund, while the fees collected from counties are deposited in that county’s general
fund. The fees assessed in this Bill do not apply to any third party that offers driving skills
testing for a CDL. If a person is employed by or volunteers for a government entity, they would
only pay for the pre-trip vehicle inspection portion of the test if they take the test at a county
facility, and would pay no fees if they test at a DOT facility.
This Bill takes effect January 1, 2022.
Background
Prior to being able to take a CDL skills test, a person must obtain a Commercial Learner’s
Permit (CLP) by passing the CDL knowledge test. A CDL skills test involves three sections of
testing including pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and road driving. Each portion
of the test is estimated to take 30 minutes to complete, creating a 90-minute testing slot. The
DOT and county treasurer offices require the person taking the test to provide the vehicle used
in testing. Currently there are 15 third parties authorized to administer CDL skills tests in Iowa.
2020 Iowa Acts, chapter 41, instructed the DOT to conduct a study on the driving skills tests
required to obtain a CDL, and evaluate and recommend testing options to increase access to
tests across the State. The study identified 26 other states that assess fees for CDL skills
testing. The DOT study can be found here.
Assumptions
• Approximately 8,100 CDL tests are conducted annually by the State and 2,200 by counties.
• The DOT will charge $25 for each pre-trip inspection test.
• Counties will charge $25 for each of the three tests required to receive a CDL.
Fiscal Impact
If all persons who take the CDL driving skills tests pass each component on their first attempt,
the fees introduced in this Bill will result in an estimated increase of $203,000 to the Statutory
Allocations Fund and $165,000 to county general funds annually. While there will be some
people seeking the issuance of a CDL who pay reduced or no fees for working with a
government entity, it is unknown how many would be exempt. As such, those exemptions are
not included in this estimate.
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Sources
Legislative Services Agency
Department of Transportation
/s/ Holly M. Lyons
June 10, 2021
Doc 1221416
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in
developing this fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services
Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.145, 321.105, 321.186, 321.187, 321.187A
Reprinted: 321.145, 321.105, 321.186, 321.187, 321.187A
Enrolled: 321.145, 321.105, 321.186, 321.187, 321.187A