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B26-0554 • 2025

Commercial Driver’s License Amendment Act of 2025

Commercial Driver’s License Amendment Act of 2025

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
at the request of the Mayor
Last action
2026-07-14
Official status
Under Council Review
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill title in metadata says 2025, but Section 1 of the official text cites it as the Act of 2026; the summary uses 2026 to match the enacted text.

Commercial Driver's License Amendment Act of 2026

This bill updates District of Columbia laws to match current federal rules for commercial driver licenses and sets new reasons why a person can lose their license.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates references in local law to point to the correct sections of U.S. Code regarding vehicle safety systems.
  • Changes how the Mayor decides when to disqualify someone from driving a commercial motor vehicle.
  • Requires disqualification if a person is convicted of offenses listed in federal regulations at 49 C.F.R. § 383.51.
  • Allows for disqualification if a driver's behavior creates an immediate danger on the road, as specified in federal rules.
  • Adds rules to punish people who lie about information needed to get a commercial license or permit.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People in Washington, D.C. who hold or want a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
  • The Mayor of the District of Columbia regarding enforcement decisions.
  • Drivers convicted of fraud related to CDL issuance or testing.

Terms To Know

Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act
A federal law that sets safety rules for large trucks and buses used in business, referenced by updated U.S. Code sections.
Disqualification
The official action of stopping a person from driving a commercial vehicle for a set time based on specific offenses or hazards.
49 C.F.R.
A section of federal rules that lists specific traffic offenses and penalties for truck drivers, which this bill now references directly.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law will only start working after the Mayor approves it (or a veto is overridden) and Congress finishes a 30-day review period.
  • Specific time periods for disqualification depend on federal rules that are referenced but not fully listed in this text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  2. 2026-07-08 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Committee Mark-up of B26-0554 by the Transportation and the Environment Committee

  3. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment

  4. 2025-12-26 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0554 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  5. 2025-12-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0554 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Commercial Driver’s License Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
1

COMMITTEE PRINT
B26-0554
Committee on Transportation and the Environment
July 09, 2026
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A BILL 3
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________ 5
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7
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________________ 9
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To amend the Uniform Classification and Commercial Driver’s License Act of 1990 to update 11
several references to the U.S. Code regarding the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 12
and to modify the standards for disqualification of a person from operation of a 13
commercial motor vehicle. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 15
act may be cited as the “Commercial Driver’s License Amendment Act of 2026”. 16
Sec. 2. The Uniform Classification and Commercial Driver’s License Act of 1990, 17
effective September 20, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-161; D.C. Official Code § 50-401 et seq.), is amended 18
as follows: 19
(a) Section 2(2) (D.C. Official Code § 50-401(2)) is amended by striking the phrase “the 20
informational system established pursuant to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, 21
approved October 27, 1986 (100 Stat. 3207; 49 U.S.C. sec. 2701 et seq.) (“Commercial Motor 22
Vehicle Safety Act”),” and inserting the phrase “the information system maintained by the 23
Secretary of Transportation pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 31309” in its place. 24
(b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 50-402) is amended as follows: 25
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended by striking the phrase “under section 12005(a) of 26
the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. sec. 2704(a))” and inserting the phrase 27
“under 49 U.S.C. § 31305” in its place. 28
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(2) The lead-in language of paragraph (7) is amended by striking the phrase “to 29
section 12007 of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. sec. 2706)” and inserting 30
the phrase “to 49 U.S.C. § 31309” in its place. 31
(3) Paragraph (8) is amended by striking the phrase “by section 12009 of the 32
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. sec. 2708)” and inserting the phrase “by 49 33
U.S.C. § 31311” in its place. 34
(c) Section 7 (D.C. Official Code § 50-406) is amended to read as follows: 35
“Sec. 7. Disqualification. 36
“The Mayor shall disqualify a person from the operation of a commercial motor vehicle 37
if: 38
“(1) The person has been convicted of an offense specified in 49 C.F.R. § 383.51, 39
and the person shall be disqualified for the time period set forth therein; 40
“(2) The person’s driving has been determined to constitute an imminent hazard, 41
as specified in 49 C.F.R. § 383.52(a), and the person shall be disqualified for a time period not to 42
exceed the time periods set forth in 49 C.F.R. § 383.52(b) and (c); 43
“(3) The person has been determined, consistent with section 8b of the District of 44
Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, effective March 14, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-279; D.C. Official Code § 45
50-1401.04), to have falsified information specified in 49 C.F.R. § 383.73(j), and the person 46
shall be disqualified for at least the minimum time period set forth therein; or 47
“(4) The person has been convicted of fraud related to the issuance of a 48
commercial driver’s license or commercial learner’s permit, or has failed to timely take a 49
knowledge or skills retest or fails a knowledge or skills retest after suspected fraud, as provided 50
in 49 C.F.R. § 383.73(k), and the person shall be disqualified for the time period set forth 51
therein.”. 52
3

Sec. 3. Section 8b(e) of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, effective March 14, 53
2007 (D.C. Law 16-279; D.C. Official Code § 50-1401.04(e)), is amended by striking the period 54
and inserting the phrase “, or any other material or information required to obtain a commercial 55
driver’s license.” in its place. 56
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 57
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 58
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 59
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 60
Sec. 5. Effective date. 61
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 62
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 63
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 64
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 65