HB 753

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  H. B. No. 753
       2025-2026
  Representative Schmidt
  To amend section 4507.11 and to enact section  1
  4506.091 of the Revised Code to require the  2
  Registrar of Motor Vehicles to administer all  3
  drivers exams in English.  4
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That section 4507.11 be amended and section  5
4506.091 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:  6
     Sec. 4506.091. (A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall  7
conduct in the English language both of the following:  8
     (1) Any knowledge test for a person applying for a  9
commercial driver's license temporary instruction permit in  10
accordance with section 4506.06 of the Revised Code;  11
     (2) Any skills test for a commercial driver's license in  12
accordance with section 4506.09 of the Revised Code.  13
     (B) The registrar shall not authorize the use of a  14
translator, translation dictionary, an electronic device, or an  15
interpreter to assist with the administration of any examination  16
except as necessary to comply with the accessibility guidelines  17
of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," 42 U.S.C.  18
12101, et seq.  19
H. B. No. 753  Page 2
As Introduced
       Sec. 4507.11. (A)(1) Except as provided in section  20
4507.112 of the Revised Code, the registrar of motor vehicles  21
shall conduct all necessary examinations of applicants for  22
temporary instruction permits, drivers' licenses, motorcycle  23
operators' endorsements, or motor-driven cycle or motor scooter  24
endorsements. The examination shall include a test of the  25
applicant's knowledge of motor vehicle laws, including the laws  26
governing stopping for school buses and use of an electronic  27
wireless communications device while operating a motor vehicle,  28
a test of the applicant's physical fitness to drive, and a test  29
of the applicant's ability to understand highway traffic control  30
devices. The registrar may shall conduct the examination in such  31
a manner that applicants who are illiterate or limited in their  32
knowledge of the English language are tested and by methods that  33
would indicate to the examining officer that the applicant has a  34
reasonable knowledge of motor vehicle laws and understands  35
highway traffic control devices. The registrar shall not  36
authorize the use of a translator, translation dictionary, an  37
electronic device, or an interpreter to assist with the  38
administration of any examination except as necessary to comply  39
with the accessibility guidelines of the "Americans with  40
Disabilities Act of 1990," 42 U.S.C. 12101, et seq.  41
       (2) An applicant for a driver's license shall give an  42
actual demonstration of the ability to exercise ordinary and  43
reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle by  44
driving a motor vehicle under the supervision of an examining  45
officer; however, no applicant for a driver's license shall use  46
a low-speed or under-speed vehicle or a mini-truck for the  47
purpose of demonstrating ability to exercise ordinary and  48
reasonable control over a vehicle. The demonstration shall  49
consist of a maneuverability test and a road test. The director  50
H. B. No. 753  Page 3
As Introduced
of public safety shall determine the formats of the tests.  51
       (3) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, an  52
applicant for a motorcycle operator's endorsement or a  53
restricted license that permits only the operation of a  54
motorcycle shall give an actual demonstration of the ability to  55
exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a  56
motorcycle by driving a motorcycle under the supervision of an  57
examining officer. However, no applicant for such an endorsement  58
or restricted license shall use a motor-driven cycle or motor  59
scooter for the purpose of demonstrating ability to exercise  60
ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a  61
motorcycle.  62
       (4) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, an  63
applicant for a motor-driven cycle or motor scooter operator's  64
endorsement or a restricted license that permits only the  65
operation of a motor-driven cycle or motor scooter shall give an  66
actual demonstration of the ability to exercise ordinary and  67
reasonable control in the operation of a motor-driven cycle or  68
motor scooter by driving a motor-driven cycle or motor scooter  69
under the supervision of an examining officer.  70
       (5) Except as provided in sections 4507.112 and 4507.12 of  71
the Revised Code, the registrar shall designate the highway  72
patrol, any law enforcement body, or any other employee of the  73
department of public safety to supervise and conduct  74
examinations for temporary instruction permits, drivers'  75
licenses, and motorcycle operators' endorsements and shall  76
provide the necessary rules and forms to properly conduct the  77
examinations. A deputy registrar shall forward to the registrar  78
the records of the examinations, together with the application  79
for a temporary instruction permit, driver's license, or  80
H. B. No. 753  Page 4
As Introduced
motorcycle operator's endorsement. If in the opinion of the  81
registrar the applicant is qualified to operate a motor vehicle,  82
the registrar shall issue the permit, license, or endorsement.  83
       (6) The registrar may authorize the highway patrol, other  84
designated law enforcement body, or other designated employee of  85
the department of public safety to issue an examiner's driving  86
permit to an applicant who has passed the required examination,  87
authorizing that applicant to operate a motor vehicle while the  88
registrar is completing an investigation relative to that  89
applicant's qualifications to receive a temporary instruction  90
permit, driver's license, or motorcycle operator's endorsement.  91
The applicant shall keep the examiner's driving permit in the  92
applicant's immediate possession while operating a motor  93
vehicle. The examiner's driving permit is effective until final  94
action and notification has been given by the registrar, but in  95
no event longer than sixty days from its date of issuance.  96
       (B)(1) An applicant for a motorcycle operator's  97
endorsement or a restricted license that permits only the  98
operation of a motorcycle who presents to the registrar of motor  99
vehicles or a deputy registrar a form approved by the director  100
of public safety attesting to the applicant's successful  101
completion within the preceding sixty days of a course of basic  102
instruction provided by the motorcycle safety and education  103
program approved by the director pursuant to section 4508.08 of  104
the Revised Code shall not be required to give an actual  105
demonstration of the ability to operate a motorcycle by driving  106
a motorcycle under the supervision of an examining officer, as  107
described in division (A) of this section. An applicant for a  108
motor-driven cycle or motor scooter operator's endorsement or a  109
restricted license that permits only the operation of a motor-  110
driven cycle or motor scooter who presents to the registrar of  111
H. B. No. 753  Page 5
As Introduced
motor vehicles or a deputy registrar a form approved by the  112
director of public safety attesting to the applicant's  113
successful completion within the preceding sixty days of a  114
course of basic instruction provided by the motorcycle safety  115
and education program approved by the director pursuant to  116
section 4508.08 of the Revised Code shall not be required to  117
give an actual demonstration of the ability to operate a motor-  118
driven cycle or motor scooter by driving a motor-driven cycle or  119
motor scooter under the supervision of an examining officer, as  120
described in division (A) of this section. Upon presentation of  121
the form described in division (B)(1) of this section and  122
compliance with all other requirements relating to the issuance  123
of a motorcycle operator's endorsement or a restricted license  124
that permits only the operation of a motorcycle, the registrar  125
or deputy registrar shall issue to the applicant the endorsement  126
or restricted license, as the case may be.  127
       (2) A person who has not attained eighteen years of age  128
and presents an application for a motorcycle operator's  129
endorsement or a restricted license under division (B)(1) of  130
this section also shall comply with the requirements of section  131
4507.21 of the Revised Code.  132
       (C) A person who holds a valid motorcycle endorsement or  133
restricted license that permits only the operation of a  134
motorcycle may operate a motor-driven cycle or motor scooter  135
with that endorsement or restricted license.  136
       Section 2. That existing section 4507.11 of the Revised  137
Code is hereby repealed.  138