The Dalilah Law
- Bill Number
- S. 3917
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-01T11:03:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Dalilah Law (S. 3917) aims to enhance safety and immigration enforcement in commercial vehicle operations by restricting the issuance and renewal of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or individuals with specific temporary work visas. It ensures that license holders meet English language proficiency standards and pass required tests in English, while penalizing non-compliance through federal funding cuts to states.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Restrictions for CDLs:
- States cannot issue or renew CDLs (including non-domiciled ones, which are for non-residents) to individuals without U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or valid visas under specific categories: E-2 (treaty investors), H-2A (temporary agricultural workers), or H-2B (temporary non-agricultural workers).
- Exceptions allow limited operation for tourists (B visa holders) or visa waiver program participants (short-term visitors without a visa).
- Recertification Requirements:
- Existing CDL holders must recertify within 180 days of the law's enactment, verifying:
- Eligible immigration status (as defined above).
- English proficiency (ability to read and speak basic English for safe operation, per federal regulations).
- Passing all knowledge, skills, and other tests in English only.
- States must revoke licenses for those who fail to recertify or do not meet criteria.
- Disqualifications and Penalties:
- Lifetime ban from operating commercial motor vehicles (large trucks or buses used for business) for unauthorized individuals, unless they qualify under exceptions.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary must withhold all federal funding (e.g., highway grants) from non-compliant states starting in the fiscal year after deadlines, including for failures in recertification, revocation, status checks, or English verification.
- Definitions:
- Key terms include "commercial driver's license" (CDL: a license for operating large commercial vehicles), "commercial motor vehicle" (CMV: vehicles like trucks over 26,001 pounds or those carrying hazardous materials), and "covered funding" (any federal money for state transportation projects).
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 immigration status as a core requirement for CDL issuance, alongside age, residency, and medical fitness—previously, non-citizens could obtain CDLs more broadly if legally present.
- Adds a new subsection to Section 31310 for lifetime disqualifications based on immigration violations, expanding beyond current penalties like temporary suspensions for traffic violations.
- Introduces mandatory English-only testing and proficiency checks, building on but strengthening existing federal rules that already require basic English skills.
- Ties compliance to federal funding, a new enforcement mechanism not previously linked to immigration status in CDL laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) face increased administrative burdens for verifying immigration status (potentially via federal databases) and conducting recertifications, risking loss of federal transportation funds (billions annually) if they fail to comply, which could strain state budgets and infrastructure projects.
- On Citizens and Residents: U.S. citizens and permanent residents with CDLs see no direct change but may face indirect effects like higher shipping costs if the trucking workforce shrinks. Eligible visa holders (e.g., farm or seasonal workers) can still obtain licenses, supporting industries like agriculture.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but it could deter foreign workers in temporary roles by limiting their ability to drive commercially, potentially affecting trade-dependent sectors; no broad visa policy changes.
- Broader Economy: The trucking industry (which moves 70% of U.S. freight) may experience driver shortages, leading to supply chain disruptions, higher costs, and delays in goods delivery.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Governments: Primary enforcers via DMVs; at risk of funding cuts, affecting road safety programs and infrastructure.
- Commercial Drivers and Immigrants: Undocumented or ineligible non-citizens (e.g., other visa types like students or refugees) lose access to CDLs, impacting jobs in trucking, delivery, and agriculture; eligible visa holders retain access.
- Trucking and Transportation Industry: Companies reliant on immigrant labor may need to hire more U.S. workers or face operational challenges.
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): Gains enforcement authority but must oversee state compliance and funding decisions.
- Immigration Advocacy Groups: Likely to scrutinize impacts on legal immigrants and enforcement practicality.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal immigration oversight in state licensing, potentially leading to lawsuits over implementation (e.g., accuracy of status checks via systems like SAVE, the federal immigration verification database). Ensures alignment with existing English requirements but mandates stricter enforcement.
- Constitutional: Raises federalism concerns, as it uses funding conditions to compel state action (similar to highway funding tied to drinking age laws), which courts have upheld but could face challenges if seen as coercive. No direct equal protection issues, as it targets immigration status, a permissible distinction.
- Political: Advances immigration restriction goals in transportation safety, appealing to border security advocates, but may spark debate on labor shortages and economic effects; introduced by Republican senators, it reflects partisan priorities on enforcement without broader reform.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- The Dalilah Law — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (10 pages)