Bill · H.R. 5863· House(119-HR-5863)
No CDLs for Illegals Act
- Introduced
- 10/28/2025
- Last activity
- 10/29/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Sponsored by
- Jefferson Van Drew
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the No CDLs for Illegals Act. It changes the rules for getting a commercial driver's license. Applicants must show proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residence, valid work authorization, and state domicile. States are also banned from giving these licenses to people who do not live in that state. States must use the SAVE system to check non-citizens and deny them if lawful presence is not confirmed. If a state breaks these rules, the Secretary of Transportation will suspend their highway funds. The bill also directs the Secretary to set fines for trucking companies that knowingly hire drivers without a valid license that meets these new rules.
Yes
Does this tighten control of the border?+5
The bill enforces strict verification of legal status and citizenship for commercial driver's license applicants using the SAVE system.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill increases federal oversight by requiring states to use specific federal verification systems and penalizing non-compliance with highway fund suspensions.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would immigrants be better off under this?-4
The bill creates additional hurdles and explicit restrictions preventing non-citizens without confirmed lawful status from obtaining commercial driver's licenses.
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?-3
The bill penalizes non-compliant states by suspending their federal highway funds, which could negatively impact public infrastructure funding.
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Trucking companies face potential new federal fines if they knowingly employ drivers without compliant commercial driver's licenses.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2(a) requires applicants to present valid documentation proving citizenship, lawful permanent resident status, or a valid work authorization, as well as valid documentation of domicile in the issuing State. This ensures that only authorized individuals receive commercial driver's licenses.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Section 2(a) requires States to use the SAVE system for any non-citizen applicant and deny the application if lawful presence is not confirmed, which could create barriers or delays for individuals with valid work authorizations if the system encounters errors.
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Section 2(b) penalizes States by suspending their apportionment of federal highway funds if the Secretary of Transportation determines the State has issued commercial driver's licenses to unauthorized drivers, which could reduce funding for public infrastructure and transportation projects that benefit people living in those States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants-4Good For Business Owners-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Roads And Bridges-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-2
- 10/29/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 10/28/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House