October 8, 2025
Ms. Lummis (for herself and Mr. Barrasso) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To amend title 49, United States Code, with respect to the requirement to test drivers of commercial motor vehicles for English proficiency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as Connor’s Law
.
Sec. 2. Requiring minimum language skills for commercial motor vehicle operators
(a) In general
Section 31308(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in subparagraph (B), by adding and
after the semicolon at the end; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
can read and speak the English language sufficiently—
(i)
to converse with the general public;
(ii)
to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language;
(iii)
to respond to official inquiries; and
(iv)
to make entries on reports and records;
(b) Out-of-Service order for noncompliance with minimum language requirement
(1) Declaration of out of service
An individual operating a commercial motor vehicle who is determined by an authorized enforcement officer to be noncompliant with section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), shall be declared out of service.
(2) Rule of construction
Nothing in paragraph (1) changes, limits, or otherwise impacts an out-of-service order that—
(A)
is not covered under that paragraph; and
(B)
is carried out pursuant to applicable Federal law (including regulations) or the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.