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DMV and immigrant advocates clash over bill to require driver‑license materials be English‑only
Summary
HB 461 would constrain driver‑license testing and materials to English only; opponents and DMV staff said the agency already offers tests and manuals in multiple languages.
Lede: The House Transportation Committee heard HB 461 on Feb. 17, a bill that would require Department of Safety and DMV testing and training materials for drivers’ licensing to be produced and administered in English only.
Nut graf: Supporters framed the bill as a move to reduce language dependence in licensing materials; opponents including immigrant‑service organizations argued it would restrict access to work and mobility for residents with limited English. DMV officials told the committee the agency already offers knowledge tests in multiple languages and recent printing of driver manuals in languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin and Arabic.
Representative Charles Foote introduced HB 461 on behalf of Representative Walsh, summarizing the proposal: “This bill requires all printed and digitally available driver's license examination related materials including the examinations themselves be available and administered in the English language only.”
William Gillette of the International Institute of New England opposed the bill. He told the committee driving is a necessity in New Hampshire and that restricting language access would impede immigrants from joining the workforce; he urged investment in ESOL classes rather than punitive language requirements. Gillette cited Census data presented in his written testimony showing immigrants are a significant and productive share of the state’s working‑age population.
Marc Roscoe, director of the New Hampshire DMV, provided informational testimony. He said the DMV currently offers computer‑based knowledge tests in multiple languages — Spanish, French, American Sign Language, Portuguese, Mandarin, Farsi and Arabic — and that the department has printed driver manuals in five languages (Swahili, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin and Arabic) through a contract funded with help from the Office of Highway Safety and AAA. Roscoe said the DMV also allows third‑party translators in limited cases and that federal grant conditions (citing Civil Rights Act guidance and NHTSA grant conditions) can require language access for substantial limited‑English populations.
Committee members asked about reciprocity for foreign licenses and whether the DMV tracks the number of tests administered in each language; Roscoe said those numbers exist and offered to provide them to the committee. Members also noted strong online public feedback: the clerk reported 6 supporters and 254 online opponents for HB 461 during the hearing.
Ending: The committee closed the hearing and requested follow‑up information from DMV including language‑use statistics, reciprocal‑license agreements and details about third‑party‑translator policies.
