Proposed bill layering fines on non ELP compliant drivers & companies that hire them passes Iowa House

A proposed bill layering fines on non ELP compliant truck drivers that the trucking companies that hire them has passed the Iowa State House. 

The bill passed the Iowa House 68 to 24 and will now head back to the Senate. If passed there and signed into law, the law would take effect in March of 2027, reported Dakota News Now.

The bill layering fines creates a state English Proficiency exam, and fines truck drivers found violating English Language Proficiency requirements up to $1,000 with a potential for up to a year in jail. The bill also fines trucking companies that hire non ELP compliant drivers between $3,000 and $10,000, and bans them from hiring truck drivers who cannot speak or read English. 

“I’ve already mentioned since June of 2025, we’ve had about 500 drivers that are pulled over in Iowa and placed out of service, but there has not been an enforcement mechanism for keeping them out of service,” said State Representative Ann Meyer. 

“I do think that what we need to hold accountable here are the carriers because it’s the carriers that really are the bad actors taking advantage of people just trying to make a living for their families and do right by their families and be productive citizens,” said State Representative Elizabeth Wilson.