S.Amdt. 2941

The Driving for Opportunity Act of 2025 is an amendment proposed by Mr. Coons to be added to bill S. 2296. Its purpose is to address the issue of driver's licenses being suspended or revoked due to unpaid civil or criminal fines and fees, which the text describes as a "poverty trap" that makes it harder for people to earn a living.

Changes and Additions

• Grant Program: It adds a program allowing the Attorney General to provide grants to States that have repealed laws allowing license or vehicle registration suspensions for unpaid fines and fees. These grants cover the costs of reinstating or renewing those licenses and registrations.
• Funding: It authorizes $10,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2024 through 2028 to fund these reinstatement programs.
• State Requirements: To get a grant, a State must not have laws allowing such suspensions and must have repealed any such laws within the last three years. States must also submit a plan to maximize the number of reinstated licenses and help people in areas with limited public transportation.
• Accountability: States receiving grants must provide a report after one year on the population served and costs, and an analysis after two years on how the program affected the collection of fines and fees.
• GAO Study: The amendment requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report within two years. This study will look at the effects of repealing these laws on factors such as employment, law enforcement resources, racial and geographic disparities, and public safety.