The Dalilah Law
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7793
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:06:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Dalilah Law (H.R. 7793) aims to restrict the issuance and renewal of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) in the United States to only citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or certain temporary work visa holders. It seeks to enhance safety and immigration enforcement by requiring proof of legal status, English language proficiency, and standardized testing in English for operating commercial motor vehicles (large trucks or buses used for business).
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Restrictions: States cannot issue or renew CDLs (including non-domiciled ones for non-residents) to individuals who are not U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or nonimmigrants holding valid E-2 (treaty investor), H-2A (agricultural worker), or H-2B (seasonal non-agricultural worker) visas under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Disqualification Penalty: Individuals caught operating a commercial motor vehicle without meeting these status requirements face lifetime disqualification from driving such vehicles in the U.S., with limited exceptions for certain other visa holders (e.g., B visa for business visitors) or those under the Visa Waiver Program.
- Recertification Requirement: Existing CDL holders must be recertified within 180 days of the law's enactment. This includes verifying legal status, English proficiency (ability to read and speak basic English for safety), and passing all required knowledge and skills tests in English only.
- Revocation Process: States must revoke CDLs from individuals who fail recertification, lack proper status, or do not meet English requirements.
- Funding Penalties: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary must withhold all federal transportation funding from non-compliant states, starting in the fiscal year after deadlines. This applies to failures in recertification, revocation, status verification, English checks, or allowing non-English exams.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "commercial driver's license" (a license for operating large commercial vehicles), "commercial motor vehicle" (vehicles over 26,001 pounds or carrying hazardous materials/passengers), and "covered examination" (tests for obtaining or renewing CDLs).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 31311(a)(12) of Title 49, U.S. Code (part of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act), by adding citizenship, permanent residency, or specific visa requirements to the list of qualifications for CDL issuance, previously focused more on residency and testing without strict immigration checks.
- Adds a new subsection (l) to Section 31310 of Title 49, U.S. Code, introducing lifetime disqualification for unauthorized operation based on immigration status—a harsher penalty than prior rules, which did not explicitly tie disqualifications to citizenship.
- Updates Section 31310(d)(2) to reference broader funding definitions under the FAST Act (a 2015 transportation law).
- Imposes new federal mandates on states for recertification and English-only testing, expanding beyond current federal minimum standards under 49 CFR Part 383, which allow some flexibility for non-domiciled drivers.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) will face increased administrative burdens for verifying immigration status (via systems like SAVE from DHS) and conducting recertifications, potentially straining resources. The DOT may need to monitor compliance and withhold billions in highway and transit funds, affecting infrastructure projects.
- On Citizens and Residents: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with CDLs face minimal direct change but could experience delays in licensing due to backlog. It ensures safer roads by prioritizing English-proficient drivers.
- On Immigrants and Visa Holders: Undocumented immigrants or those with other visa types (e.g., students, tourists) lose access to CDLs, limiting job opportunities in trucking. Approved visa holders (E-2, H-2A/B) retain access but must prove ongoing validity.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but could complicate cross-border trucking with Canada/Mexico by restricting foreign drivers without specific visas, potentially affecting trade under agreements like USMCA.
- Broader Economic Effects: The trucking industry (which relies on immigrant labor) may face driver shortages, raising shipping costs and supply chain disruptions, especially in agriculture and seasonal work.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State Governments and DMVs: Responsible for implementation; risk losing federal funds if non-compliant.
- CDL Holders and Applicants: Current holders (millions nationwide) must recertify; immigrants without qualifying status face license loss and job barriers.
- Trucking and Transportation Industry: Companies employing drivers could see workforce reductions, increasing operational costs.
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): Oversees enforcement and funding withholding.
- Immigrant Communities: Non-citizens in low-wage driving jobs (e.g., farm workers, delivery) are directly restricted.
- Federal Immigration Agencies (e.g., DHS): Indirectly involved in status verification processes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal oversight of state licensing under the Commerce Clause (regulating interstate transport), but could lead to lawsuits over enforcement feasibility or conflicts with state laws allowing broader driver access. Ties transportation funding to immigration compliance, similar to past "REAL ID" mandates.
- Constitutional: Potential challenges on federalism grounds, as withholding funds pressures states without direct commandeering (per Supreme Court precedents like Printz v. United States). Equal protection issues may arise if the law disproportionately affects certain nationalities, though it targets status, not race.
- Political: Aligns with immigration restriction efforts, potentially polarizing debates on border security versus labor needs in essential industries. Named "The Dalilah Law," it may reference a specific incident (not detailed in the bill), framing it as a safety measure amid broader political pushes for stricter visa enforcement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 2026-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-03-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- The Dalilah Law — issued 2026-03-04 — PDF (10 pages)