The latest immigration bill submitted to the Tennessee General Assembly would require law enforcement to immediately suspend a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for any driver who does not speak or read English proficiently and prohibit the vehicle from returning to the road until an English-speaking driver is substituted.
Senate Bill (SB) 1748 by State Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) would require law enforcement “issue an out-of-service order” to any vehicle owned by a commercial company whose driver was found to be unable to speak and read English sufficiently to hold a conversation, understand traffic signs, respond to inquiries, and make reports.
Once an out-of-service order is issued, the vehicle’s operation is prohibited “until a substitute driver who is capable of reading and speaking the English language sufficiently” is provided by the company.
After an out-of-service order is issued, the bill also mandates that the driver’s license be suspended.
The legislation would additionally require law enforcement to charge employers with a Class C misdemeanor, considered a non-moving traffic violation, and make them liable for fines and fees resulting from their employee’s inability to communicate in English.
Bowling’s legislation follows a slate of eight immigration bills that were introduced last week with the support of state Republican leadership, including two bills that similarly target drivers who are in the country illegally or who cannot speak and read English.
One bill, SB 1587 by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), would make it a Class A misdemeanor for an illegal alien to operate a commercial vehicle in Tennessee and mandate that local law enforcement report such drivers to federal immigration authorities.
The second bill is HB 1708 by State Representative Kip Capley (R-Summertown). It would require applicants for a Tennessee driver’s license to provide proof of citizenship or lawful residence status and to speak and read English proficiently.
Those unable to pass the language requirements can be issued a restricted license before retaking the test in one year.
Republicans have also introduced legislation that would prohibit Tennessee cities and counties from offering public benefits to illegal immigrants, make it a state-level offense for illegal immigrants to enter the United States or remain in defiance of a final deportation order, and mandate local governments use E-Verify when hiring new employees.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy on Sunday shared the story of Dalilah Coleman, a child who was allegedly struck by an illegal immigrant CDL holder, causing what Duffy described as life-changing injuries.
“This beautiful girl, Dalilah Coleman, is left with life-altering injuries after a criminal illegal immigrant caused a wreck while operating a truck he should NEVER have had a license to drive,” wrote Duffy in a post to X. “California’s weak leadership is failing Americans like Dalilah every day. My prayers are with her and her family.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated in September 2025 that the accident was caused by Partap Singh, an illegal immigrant from India.
DHS reported that Coleman’s father told the agency, “the crash resulted in her inability to walk, talk, eat orally, or attend kindergarten as planned. She was in a coma for three weeks and required six months of hospital treatment before her family could bring her home. While in the hospital, she had a craniectomy and was without half of her skull for four months.”
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected]. Â
I support detaining these illegals until ICE can come and pick them up. The fines for the companies need to be much more severe, including loss of business licenses and their insurance providers notified. The only way we can stop this is to make it hurt badly for the companies who hire them.
I am supportive of this type of legislation. It is time to take back our state and country.