Tennessee Bill Requiring English-Only Driver Tests Fails

A bill in Tennessee seeking to require all driver's license tests to be administered only in English was rejected by a House subcommittee in a 5-3 vote. The proposal, sponsored by Republican Rep. Kip Capley and Sen. Bo Watson, aimed to bar the use of translation aids during the written portion of the test. Concerns from various stakeholders, including the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and economic development officials, highlighted the potential negative impact on companies reliant on a multicultural workforce, such as Nissan and Volkswagen. Opponents, including Republican Rep. Dan Howell, argued that the bill would adversely affect legal residents, including those on work visas. Current Tennessee law allows driving tests to be taken in multiple languages, and the bill's defeat halts further action this legislative session. Advocates for immigrant rights have called for the inclusion of more languages in the testing process to better prepare drivers on the road.