House Eyes Dalilah Law on Transportation Safety

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved **Dalilah's Law** on March 18, advancing legislation designed to strengthen Commercial Driver's License requirements and improve highway safety across the nation.[1] The bill passed on a 35-26 vote and now moves toward a full House vote.[4]

Named after Dalilah Coleman, a child seriously injured in a crash involving a commercial vehicle, the legislation targets what supporters describe as critical gaps in driver qualification and enforcement.[12] The bill requires all CDL holders to demonstrate English language proficiency, allows enforcement officers to place drivers out of service for failing to meet language standards, and mandates that states verify work authorization before issuing licenses.[1][5] It also cracks down on "CDL mills"—substandard training operations—and modernizes systems to alert motor carriers when a driver's CDL has been revoked or suspended.[2]

The trucking industry broadly supports the measure, with the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, and state trucking associations endorsing the bill as essential to protecting public safety.[2] However, the legislation drew partisan disagreement, with House Transportation Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen expressing concern that the bill could prevent legal drivers from working while failing to address the broader roadway safety crisis.[8]

The bill proposes significant financial incentives for state compliance, withholding up to 8 percent of federal highway funds from non-compliant states initially, escalating to 12 percent for subsequent violations.[10] These penalties would take effect October 1, 2026, creating pressure on states to align their CDL issuance practices with federal standards.