CHEYENNE – A Wyoming legislative committee voted 11-1 Monday to sponsor a bill giving all state law enforcement officers authority to ticket commercial truck drivers who cannot demonstrate English proficiency.
The Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee’s vote gives the legislation an edge going into the 2026 budget session, opening in February. However, the bill will still require a two-thirds vote to pass introduction since it is not budget legislation.
Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne, cast the only vote against the measure. Sen. Ed Cooper, R-Ten Sleep, and Rep. Reuben Tarver, R-Gillette, were excused from the meeting.
The legislative push follows an April executive order from President Donald Trump directing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to institute new guidance requiring officers to test drivers if a language deficiency is suspected.
Wyoming Highway Patrol officials reported placing 497 drivers out of service between June, when enforcement increased, and mid-October. Currently, placing a driver out of service means the driver must remain parked until a qualified English-proficient driver arrives.
Under the current draft, the bill would allow any Wyoming law enforcement officer to fine a non-English-speaking trucker $1,000 for a first offense and ban the trucker from driving a commercial vehicle in the state until the driver could show English proficiency. A trucker caught driving while banned would face a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
Kevin Hawley, president of the Wyoming Trucking Association, voiced support for the bill while arguing more than just drivers should be held accountable for such infractions. He said passing English proficiency legislation “isn’t racism.”
The bill originally contemplated $3,000 in civil fines against motor carriers sending non-English-speaking truckers into Wyoming and required officers to immediately hold trucks and notify carriers. However, Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Kyle McKay told the committee none of those provisions were feasible.
Capt. David Wagoner of the Wyoming Highway Patrol said officers could not sit with a truck for 12 hours waiting for a company representative, especially in a blizzard or when responding to multiple crashes.
The committee decided to remove a state-specific definition of English proficiency from the bill and instead directly reference federal rules. Hawley supported the change, telling lawmakers a state rule mirroring federal language would help avoid potential loss of federal funding.
