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HB88 INTRODUCED
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HB88
7B9H4EV-1
By Representative Pettus
RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 17-Dec-25
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7B9H4EV-1 11/12/2025 JWB (L)lg 2025-2959
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PFD: 17-Dec-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, initial applicants and
certain individuals seeking a renewal for a driver
license are subject to an examination created by the
Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
This bill would require ALEA to administer all
examinations for securing a driver license exclusively
in the English language.
This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update the existing code
language to current style.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to driver licenses; to amend Section 32-6-3,
Code of Alabama 1975; to require the Alabama State Law
Enforcement Agency to administer examinations for securing a
valid driver license in the English language; and to make
nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing
code language to current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 32-6-3, Code of Alabama 1975, is
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Section 1. Section 32-6-3, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§32-6-3
(a)(1) Every person individual who applies for an
initial Alabama driver's driver license issued by the
Department of Public Safety under this article shall be given
and successfully pass an examination before the issuance of a
driver's driver license.
(2) The person individual seeking a driver license shall
apply toat an ALEA office to take the examination. The
examination shall be conducted by thean officer, state
trooper, or duly authorized third party third-party testing
agent of the Director of Public Safety ALEA, or one of them
where there is more than one, designated by the Director of
Public Safety to conduct examinations .
(3) A minor shall furnish provide to ALEA a certified
copy of his or her birth certificate and any other documents
proving identity or authorized presence required by rule
adopted under Section 32-6-13 or a certified statement from the
county superintendent of education of the county in which the
minor resides or from the superintendent of the school which
the minor attends proving that the minor is at least 16 years
of age. Upon satisfying this requirement, the minor shall be
examined .
(b)(1) The Director of Public Safety Secretary of ALEA
shall promulgate adopt reasonable rules and regulations not in
conflict with the laws of this state as to the kind of
providing for the examination or test to be given and, the
method and manner of giving the examination, ascertaining , and
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method and manner of giving the examination, ascertaining , and
reporting the results of the examination, and to who qualifies
to give the qualifications for giving the examination.
(2) All written, oral, vision, and driving portions of
the examination administered for purposes of obtaining or
renewing a driver license must be in the English language
only. An applicant may not use a translation dictionary, an
electronic device, or an interpreter to assist with the
administration of the examination.
(3) In lieu of examination by the Department of Public
Safety ALEA for the written, oral, vision, and driving portion
of the examination, an applicant currently enrolled or
beginning enrollment in a high school drivers' education class
may submit proof that the applicant has passed the written,
oral, vision, and driving portion of the examination which has
been given by either of the following:
a. A certified driver education instructor at a public
high school who is approved by the State Department of
Education and trained as a third party third-party testing
agent for the Department of Public Safety ALEA.
b. A driver education instructor at a private high
school who is certified, approved, and trained by the
Department of Public Safety ALEA to act as a third
partythird-party testing agent for the Department of Public
Safety ALEA.
(2)c. In no way shall the State Department of Education
be responsible for the approval and training of private high
school driver education instructors as third party third-party
testing agents for the Department of Public Safety ALEA.
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testing agents for the Department of Public Safety ALEA.
(3)(4) Reports of all examinations shall be on forms
provided by the Director of Public Safety and shall indicate
ifThe individual administering the examination shall report to
the Secretary of ALEA whether the applicant passed the
examination. The report shall be on a form provided by ALEA.
(c) If the applicant passes the examination, the
applicant shall be given a certificate to that effect, on a
form provided by the Director of Public Safety ALEA, by the
officer, state trooper, or duly authorized third party testing
agent of the Director of Public Safety individual conducting
the examination. The applicant shall present the certificate
to a driver's driver license office of the department ALEA.
(d) If a person the applicant fails to pass the
examination, no certificate shall be given to the
person applicant . No application for an initial Alabama
driver's driver license shall be accepted by a judge of probate
or license commissioner.
(e)(1) A person An individual who secures a applies for
the renewal of a driver license in the manner provided by law
shall not be required to take the examination again unless the
Director of Public Safety Secretary of ALEA deems it advisable
to require the person individual to take the examination , or
the individual does not comply with the application deadline
provided in Section 32-6-1 .
(2) If the Director of Public Safety deems it
advisable secretary determines the applicant for renewal must
take the examination , the director secretary shall notify the
person individual in writing by letter sent to the address
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person individual in writing by letter sent to the address
given on the application of the person individual stating the
time and place of the examination at least 10 days before the
date on which the examination or test is given of the time and
place of the examination . The examination given to such a
person Renewal examinations shall be conducted in the same
manner , and the result of the examination ascertained and
reported in the same way , as examinations that are given to
persons individuals applying for an initial Alabama
driver's driver license.
(f) Failure of a person an individual to appear after
notice to take such an examination or test, or refusal by a
person an individual to take the examination or test, shall be
grounds for suspension or revocation of the license of the
person individual by the Director of Public Safety . A person An
individual to whom such an examination or test who is given an
examination whoand fails to pass the examination or test shall
have his or her license revoked by the Director of Public
Safety ."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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