Bill requiring English-only driver’s license testing in Tennessee fails in a legislative committee

From left, Luis Pedrosa and friends Cathy Carroll and Gisselle Huerta react as HB0556 fails to pass. The measure would have required all written drivers license examinations to be administered in English only. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

A bill requiring Tennessee driver’s license tests to be taken only in English failed in a House subcommittee Tuesday after lobbying by business groups concerned that executives and workers employed in some of the state’s largest industries could be impacted.

The bill (HB556/SB1373) by Rep. Kip Capley of Summertown Republican and Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson, both Republicans, is among a broad slate of proposed legislation aimed at restricting the rights of immigrants living in Tennessee that has been introduced this year.

The measure would have required all drivers license applicants to take the written portion of drivers test in English and barred the use of translation dictionaries or interpreters for individuals taking the test.

It was defeated 5-3 in a House Transportation Subcommittee after Republican members expressed concern about the impact on international industries doing business in Tennessee, including Nissan and Volkswagen.

Republicans on the panel noted they had also heard concerns about the bill from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, which recruits international companies to do business in Tennessee, and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.

“What this bill does is address those people who are already here on a work visa, on a green card who are here legally, and I have many of those in my district,” Rep. Dan Howell, a Cleveland Republican, said in explaining his “no” vote.

“I have … companies that employ 1,000 people,” Howell said. “Volkswagen is close to my district that has 5,000 or 6,000 people, and these companies send a large part of their executive staff here with their families. They’re here legally and some of them may not speak English.”

Tennessee law already bars immigrants without legal status from obtaining a drivers’ license, limiting the would-be impact of the proposed bill to those who are legally present in the United States, including citizens who may prefer to take the written portion of the required test in a language other than English.

Currently the Tennessee Department of Safety offers written exams in German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish in addition to English.

The bill’s defeat in a House subcommittee means it is effectively shelved for the year.