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Senate concurs with amended House changes to CDL English-proficiency penalties; SF2426 passes
Summary
Senate File 2426 (commercial-driver English-proficiency requirements) was amended to reduce carrier criminal penalties to a simple misdemeanor, add a $10,000 fine per violation, require Iowa-only out-of-service orders, and remove an immediate-payment release rule; amended bill passed (39–5).
Senator Rosenboom (Marion) described Senate amendment 51-48 (a House amendment) to Senate File 2426, explaining the amendment reduces criminal penalties for carriers employing drivers not proficient in English from a serious misdemeanor to a simple misdemeanor, eliminates graduated fines, and replaces them with a $10,000 fine per violation. The amendment also requires Iowa law-enforcement out-of-service orders when violations are found and removes an immediate pre-release payment requirement.
Senator Rosenboom moved concurrence with the amended language and the Senate concurred; the Senate recorded 39 ayes and 5 nays on final passage. The sponsor emphasized that the clarified out-of-service orders apply only in Iowa and that carriers cannot return vehicles to service until correction or fine payment.
