Tennessee Senate Committee Votes to Limit Non-English Driver

The Tennessee Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously yesterday to pass S. 11, legislation that would require most written driver’s license exams in the state to be taken in English. The action in Tennessee marks the second time this week and the third time in the month of March that a state legislature has approved a motion to reduce the provision of driver’s license exams in languages other than English. 

Under S. 11, most prospective motorists in Tennessee would be required to take the written portion of the driver’s license exam in English. Exceptions would apply for legal permanent residents of the United States. The full text of S. 11 can be found here.

In addition to Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri, legislation to reduce or eliminate driver's license tests in languages other than English is pending in New York and was introduced earlier this year in Montana.