SB 171

01-21 08:38  S.B. 171
1State Commercial Driver License Amendments
                                       2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                  Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Pitcher
                                              House Sponsor:
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill allows an individual authorized to work in the United States, but not domiciled in
6   Utah, to obtain a restricted driver license to operate a commercial vehicle within the state.
7   Highlighted Provisions:
8This bill:
9▸ creates requirements for issuance of a "K" commercial driver license restriction to an
10   individual not domiciled in the state but otherwise qualified for a commercial driver
11   license; and
12▸ makes technical changes.
13   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14None
15   Other Special Clauses:
16None
17   Utah Code Sections Affected:
18   AMENDS:
1953-3-404, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 190
2053-3-412, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 303
21
22   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23Section 1. Section 53-3-404 is amended to read:
                                                                                                             S.B. 171
2453-3-404 . Requirements to drive commercial motor vehicle.
25   (1) [A person ] An individual may not drive a commercial motor vehicle, unless the [person ]
26individual has been issued and is in immediate possession of:
27(a) a CDL license certificate valid for the commercial motor vehicle the [person ]
28individual is driving; or
29(b) a valid CDIP license certificate in accordance with Section 53-3-408.
30   (2)(a) A licensee shall display a CDL or CDIP license certificate upon demand of a
S.B. 171  01-21 08:38
31      justice court judge, a peace officer, a special function officer, a port-of-entry officer,
32      or a designee of the division.
33      (b) It is a defense to a charge under this section that the [person ] individual charged
34produces in court a CDL or CDIP license certificate that is issued to the [person ]
35individual and is valid at the time of the citation or arrest.
36  (3) [A person ] An individual may not drive a commercial motor vehicle if the [person's ]
37      individual's privilege to drive a commercial motor vehicle is:
38      (a) suspended, revoked, or canceled;
39      (b) subject to a disqualification;
40      (c) subject to an out-of-service order; or
41      (d) not medically certified as defined in Section 53-3-402.
42  (4) [A person ] An individual may not drive a commercial motor vehicle if the commercial
43      motor vehicle is subject to an out-of-service order.
44  (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the division shall issue a commercial
45      driver license bearing a "K" intrastate-only restriction described in Subsection 53-3-412
46      (1)(c)(ii) to an applicant who:
47      (a) is lawfully present in the United States;
48      (b) is authorized to work under federal law;
49      (c) acknowledges, by a signed statement on a form provided by the division, that:
50(i) the license is valid only for intrastate commerce within Utah; and
51(ii) operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce or outside Utah
52while holding the license is prohibited and may result in sanction, disqualification,
53or revocation; and
54      (d) meets all knowledge, skills, and medical qualification standards applicable to
55commercial driver licensing under this chapter.
56  (6)(a) An individual applying for a license under Subsection (5) is not required to be
57      domiciled in the state for purposes of 49 C.F.R. Part 383.
58      (b) An individual currently domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction who applies for a license
59described in Subsection (5) shall meet the requirements concerning applicants
60domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction described in 49 C.F.R. Part 383.
61  (7) A license issued under Subsection (5):
62      (a) shall clearly display the "K" intrastate-only restriction;
63      (b) shall expire on the day that the individual's federal work authorization expires;
64      (c) is not valid for operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce or
                                                  -2-
01-21 08:38  S.B. 171
65outside Utah; and
66      (d) does not constitute a commercial driver license under 49 C.F.R. Part 383 for
67interstate purposes.
68   (8) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
69      division may make rules to issue intrastate-only commercial driver licenses bearing a
70      "K" intrastate-only restriction to lawfully present, non-domiciled individuals, including
71      procedures for verifying work authorization.
72Section 2. Section 53-3-412 is amended to read:
7353-3-412 . CDL classifications, endorsements, and restrictions.
74   (1) A CDL may be granted with the following classifications, endorsements, and
75      restrictions:
76      (a) Classifications:
77(i) Class A: any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, if
78the GVWR of the one or more vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
79(ii) Class B: any single motor vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more,
80including that motor vehicle when towing a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000
81pounds or less; and
82(iii) Class C: any single motor vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds or
83that motor vehicle when towing a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less
84when the vehicle is designed:
85(A) to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver;
86(B) as a school bus, and weighing less than 26,001 pounds GVWR; or
87(C) to transport hazardous materials that requires the vehicle to be placarded under
8849 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F.
89      (b) Endorsements:
90(i) "H" authorizes the driver to drive a commercial motor vehicle transporting
91hazardous materials as defined in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 383.5.
92(ii) "N" authorizes the driver to drive a tank vehicle.
93(iii) "P" authorizes the driver to drive a motor vehicle designed to carry 16 or more
94passengers including the driver.
95(iv) "S" authorizes the driver to transport preprimary, primary, or secondary school
96students from home to school, school to home, or to and from school-sponsored
97events.
98(v) "T" authorizes the driver to drive a commercial motor vehicle with a double or
                                                 -3-
 S.B. 171  01-21 08:38
99triple trailer.
100(vi) "X" authorizes the driver to drive a tank vehicle and transport hazardous
101materials.
102      (c) Restrictions:
103(i) "E" restricts the driver from driving a commercial motor vehicle with a manual
104transmission.
105(ii)(A) "K" restricts the driver to driving intrastate only any commercial motor
106vehicle as defined by 49 C.F.R. Parts 383 and 390.
107(B) The division may issue a CDL bearing a "K" restriction as described in
108Section 53-3-404 to an otherwise qualified applicant who is lawfully present in
109the United States but who is not domiciled in Utah for purposes of 49 C.F.R.
110Part 383.
111(iii) "L" restricts the driver to driving a commercial motor vehicle not equipped with
112air brakes.
113(iv) "J" provides for other CDL restrictions.
114(v) "M" restricts a driver from transporting passengers using a class A bus.
115(vi) "N" restricts a driver from transporting passengers using a class A or class B bus.
116(vii) "O" restricts a driver from driving a commercial motor vehicle equipped with a
117tractor trailer.
118(viii)(A) "V" indicates that the driver has been issued a variance by the Federal
119Motor Carrier Safety Administration in reference to the driver's medical
120certification status.
121(B) A driver with a "V" restriction shall have the letter outlining the specifications
122for the variance in the driver's possession along with the driver's commercial
123driver license when operating a commercial motor vehicle.
124(ix) "Z" restricts a driver from driving a commercial motor vehicle with non-fully
125equipped air brakes.
126  (2) A commercial driver instruction permit may be granted with the following
127      classifications, endorsements, and restrictions:
128      (a) Classifications:
129(i) Class A: any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, if
130the GVWR of the one or more vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
131(ii) Class B: any single motor vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more,
132including that motor vehicle when towing a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000
                                                  -4-
 01-21 08:38  S.B. 171
133pounds or less; and
134(iii) Class C: any single motor vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds or
135that motor vehicle when towing a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less
136when the vehicle is designed:
137(A) to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver;
138(B) as a school bus, and weighing less than 26,001 pounds GVWR; or
139(C) to transport hazardous material that requires the vehicle to be placarded under
14049 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F.
141      (b) Endorsements:
142(i) "N" authorizes the driver to drive a tank vehicle. An "N" endorsement may only
143be issued with an "X" restriction.
144(ii) "P" authorizes the driver to drive a motor vehicle designed to carry 16 or more
145passengers including the driver. A "P" endorsement may only be issued with a
146"P" restriction.
147(iii) "S" authorizes the driver to transport preprimary, primary, or secondary school
148students from home to school, school to home, or to and from school-sponsored
149events. An "S" endorsement may only be issued with a "P" restriction.
150      (c) Restrictions:
151(i) "K" restricts the driver to driving intrastate only any commercial motor vehicle as
152defined by 49 C.F.R. Parts 383 and 390.
153(ii) "L" restricts the driver to driving a commercial motor vehicle not equipped with
154air brakes.
155(iii) "M" restricts a driver from transporting passengers using a class A bus.
156(iv) "N" restricts a driver from transporting passengers using a class A or class B bus.
157(v) "P" restricts a driver from having one or more passengers in the vehicle while
158driving a commercial motor vehicle bus unless the passenger is:
159(A) a federal or state auditor or inspector;
160(B) a test examiner;
161(C) another trainee; or
162(D) the CDL holder accompanying the CDIP holder as required in 49 C.F.R. Sec.
163383.25.
164(vi)(A) "V" indicates that the driver has been issued a variance by the Federal
165Motor Carrier Safety Administration in reference to the driver's medical
166certification status.
                                                 -5-
 S.B. 171  01-21 08:38
167(B) A driver with a "V" restriction shall have the letter outlining the specifications
168for the variance in the driver's possession along with the driver's commercial
169driver license when operating a commercial motor vehicle.
170(vii) "X" restricts a driver from having cargo in a commercial motor vehicle tank
171vehicle.
172  (3) A violation of this section is an infraction.
173Section 3. Effective Date.
174  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
                                                  -6-