HB 88

HB88 INTRODUCED
1 HB88
2 7B9H4EV-1
3 By Representative Pettus
4 RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
5 First Read: 13-Jan-26
6 PFD: 17-Dec-25
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7B9H4EV-1 11/12/2025 JWB (L)lg 2025-2959
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4 SYNOPSIS:
5Under existing law, initial applicants and
6certain individuals seeking a renewal for a driver
7license are subject to an examination created by the
8Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
9This bill would require ALEA to administer all
10examinations for securing a driver license exclusively
11in the English language.
12This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
13technical revisions to update the existing code
14language to current style.
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16
17A BILL
18TO BE ENTITLED
19AN ACT
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21Relating to driver licenses; to amend Section 32-6-3,
22 Code of Alabama 1975; to require the Alabama State Law
23 Enforcement Agency to administer examinations for securing a
24 valid driver license in the English language; and to make
25 nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing
26 code language to current style.
27 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
28Section 1. Section 32-6-3, Code of Alabama 1975, is
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29 amended to read as follows:
30"§32-6-3
31(a)(1) Every personindividual who applies for an
32 initial Alabama driver'sdriver license issued by the
33 Department of Public Safety under this article shall be given
34 and successfully pass an examination before the issuance of a
35 driver'sdriver license.
36(2) The personindividual seeking a driver license shall
37 apply toat an ALEA office to take the examination. The
38 examination shall be conducted by thean officer, state
39 trooper, or duly authorized third partythird-party testing
40 agent of the Director of Public SafetyALEA, or one of them
41 where there is more than one, designated by the Director of
42 Public Safety to conduct examinations.
43(3) A minor shall furnishprovide to ALEA a certified
44 copy of his or her birth certificate and any other documents
45 proving identity or authorized presence required by rule
46 adopted under Section 32-6-13or a certified statement from the
47 county superintendent of education of the county in which the
48 minor resides or from the superintendent of the school which
49 the minor attends proving that the minor is at least 16 years
50 of age. Upon satisfying this requirement, the minor shall be
51 examined.
52(b)(1) The Director of Public SafetySecretary of ALEA
53 shall promulgateadopt reasonable rules and regulations not in
54 conflict with the laws of this state as to the kind of
55 providing for the examination or test to be given and, the
56 method and manner of giving the examination, ascertaining, and
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57 reporting the results of the examination, and to who qualifies
58 to givethe qualifications for giving the examination.
59(2) All written, oral, vision, and driving portions of
60 the examination administered for purposes of obtaining or
61 renewing a driver license must be in the English language
62 only. An applicant may not use a translation dictionary, an
63 electronic device, or an interpreter to assist with the
64 administration of the examination.
65(3) In lieu of examination by the Department of Public
66 SafetyALEA for the written, oral, vision, and driving portion
67 of the examination, an applicant currently enrolled or
68 beginning enrollment in a high school drivers' education class
69 may submit proof that the applicant has passed the written,
70 oral, vision, and driving portion of the examination which has
71 been given by either of the following:
72a. A certified driver education instructor at a public
73 high school who is approved by the State Department of
74 Education and trained as a third partythird-party testing
75 agent for the Department of Public SafetyALEA.
76b. A driver education instructor at a private high
77 school who is certified, approved, and trained by the
78 Department of Public SafetyALEA to act as a third
79 partythird-party testing agent for the Department of Public
80 SafetyALEA.
81(2)c. In no way shall the State Department of Education
82 be responsible for the approval and training of private high
83 school driver education instructors as third partythird-party
84 testing agents for the Department of Public SafetyALEA.
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85(3)(4) Reports of all examinations shall be on forms
86 provided by the Director of Public Safety and shall indicate
87 ifThe individual administering the examination shall report to
88 the Secretary of ALEA whether the applicant passed the
89 examination. The report shall be on a form provided by ALEA.
90(c) If the applicant passes the examination, the
91 applicant shall be given a certificate to that effect, on a
92 form provided by the Director of Public SafetyALEA, by the
93 officer, state trooper, or duly authorized third party testing
94 agent of the Director of Public Safetyindividual conducting
95 the examination. The applicant shall present the certificate
96 to a driver'sdriver license office of the departmentALEA.
97(d) If a personthe applicant fails to pass the
98 examination, no certificate shall be given to the
99 personapplicant. No application for an initial Alabama
100 driver'sdriver license shall be accepted by a judge of probate
101 or license commissioner.
102(e)(1) A personAn individual who secures aapplies for
103 the renewal of a driver license in the manner provided by law
104 shall not be required to take the examination again unless the
105 Director of Public SafetySecretary of ALEA deems it advisable
106 to require the personindividual to take the examination, or
107 the individual does not comply with the application deadline
108 provided in Section 32-6-1.
109(2) If the Director of Public Safety deems it
110 advisablesecretary determines the applicant for renewal must
111 take the examination, the directorsecretary shall notify the
112 personindividual in writing by letter sent to the address
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113 given on the application of the personindividual stating the
114 time and place of the examination at least 10 days before the
115 date on which the examination or test is given of the time and
116 place of the examination. The examination given to such a
117 personRenewal examinations shall be conducted in the same
118 manner, and the result of the examination ascertained and
119 reported in the same way, as examinations that are given to
120 personsindividuals applying for an initial Alabama
121 driver'sdriver license.
122(f) Failure of a personan individual to appear after
123 notice to take such an examination or test, or refusal by a
124 personan individual to take the examination or test, shall be
125 grounds for suspension or revocation of the license of the
126 personindividual by the Director of Public Safety. A personAn
127 individual to whom such an examination or testwho is given an
128 examination whoand fails to pass the examination or test shall
129 have his or her license revoked by the Director of Public
130 Safety."
131Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
132 1, 2026.
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