Tennessee bill would require English-only driver’s license exams, ban translation aids

• Two Tennessee Republicans have proposed a bill requiring all driver’s license tests to be administered in English only.
• The bill would also ban the use of translation dictionaries, electronic devices, and interpreters during the tests.
• Opponents argue that the bill would discriminate against non-English speakers and make roads less safe.

Two Tennessee Republicans are again seeking to require all driver’s license tests to be offered in English only – and ban dictionaries and other translation help.

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Capley proposed a similar bill last year, which drew 16 co-sponsors in the House, but stalled in the Senate.

If passed, the measure would take effect on July 1.

While there is no official language of the United States, state law does formally designate English as the official and legal language of Tennessee. All state publications, including ballots, are required to be produced in English. But there is no limitation or requirement on government documents being made available in other languages.

Currently, written driver’s license tests in Tennessee are offered in English, Spanish, German, Korean and Japanese. Test takers are allowed to bring a translation dictionary, but no interpreter or translation services are available. Driving tests are offered in English only.

The test is not offered in the third and fourth most-spoken languages in the state: Arabic and Chinese.

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“This is a regressive piece of legislation that would hinder economic and cultural opportunities for people that call Tennessee home, and would compromise road safety for everyone,” Mata said. “This bill would have the effect of making it harder for families to get to and from work or school – and perpetuating this anti-immigrant language coming from our state legislature.”

Mata sees restricting language offerings as the “beginning of a slippery slope” of the state not making documents and forms available in languages many Tennesseans speak.

“Our diversity makes our state stronger,” Mata said. “This is not only an attack against one group or one community. This English language-only effort is an attack on all of our immigrant communities.”

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Capley did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Watson said Capley brought the legislation to him to co-sponsor and deferred to Capley for comment.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her atvjones@tennessean.com. 

* Original Article:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/10/new-bill-would-make-drivers-tests-english-only-ban-dictionaries/78334908007/