Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7758

Rep. Barr Introduces "The Dalilah Law" to Ban Non-Citizens From Holding Commercial Driver's Licenses

The Dalilah Law

16 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: The Dalilah Law

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

This bill would prohibit states from issuing commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or holder of specific work visas (E-2 treaty investors, H-2A agricultural workers, or H-2B temporary workers). This would remove CDL eligibility from many immigrants currently allowed to hold them.
From policy text
“To prohibit the issuance of commercial driver's licenses to individuals who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States or holders of certain work visas, and for other purposes.”
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All CDL exams — including knowledge tests, skills tests, and any other required tests — must be taken in English only. States would no longer be allowed to offer these exams in other languages. Drivers must also demonstrate English proficiency to obtain or keep their license.
Every current CDL holder in the country would have to go through a recertification process within 180 days. They'd need to prove their citizenship or legal status, show English proficiency, and confirm they passed all CDL exams in English. Those who fail or don't recertify would lose their license.
From policy text
“require all individuals who, as of the date of enactment of this Act, hold a covered license or authorization issued by the State to be recertified for that covered license or authorization not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act”
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Anyone caught operating a commercial vehicle without qualifying legal status would face a lifetime ban from driving commercial vehicles in the United States — a permanent career-ending penalty.
From policy text
“The Secretary shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an individual who operates a commercial motor vehicle in the United States while that individual is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States”
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States that don't comply face an extremely severe penalty: the federal government would withhold ALL transportation funding — not just CDL-related money, but any funding the Secretary is authorized to provide. This creates enormous financial pressure on states to enforce these requirements.
From policy text
“the Secretary shall withhold all covered funding from a State that fails to complete those recertifications by that deadline”
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ImmigrationInfrastructure TransportationLabor Employment

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Mar 3, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mar 3, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

4 articles

FreightWaves·4 days ago

Dalilah's Law Is Moving Through Congress - Here Is Everything That Is Actually In It, Everything That Was Promised But Is Not, and the Parts Nobody Is Talking About

The bill prohibits states from issuing CDLs to anyone except U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or specific visa holders. It mandates a massive 180-day recertification for all 4 million current CDL holders and introduces a lifetime ban for operating a CMV without the required immigration status.

The Trucker·1 day ago

Trucking groups rally behind "Dalilah's Law" CDL restrictions

Trucking organizations are supporting legislation introduced by Sen. Jim Banks and Rep. Andy Barr. The law aims to enhance road safety by requiring English-only testing and restricting CDLs to legal residents, closing loopholes that allowed undocumented individuals to obtain commercial licenses.

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Rig Load·5 days ago

The Dalilah Law and the capacity crunch not yet priced in

Industry analysts warn that the Dalilah Law's 180-day recertification mandate could create a massive administrative bottleneck at state DMVs. The combination of English-only testing and strict visa requirements threatens to drain the existing driver pool during an ongoing labor shortage.

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