The bill requiring Tennessee’s driver’s license tests to be obtained only in English failed in a House subcommittee on Tuesday after lobbying by business groups concerned that executives and workers employed in some of the state’s biggest industries could be affected.
bill(HB556/SB1373) Rep. Kip Capley, a Summertown Republican, and Sen. Bo Watson, of Hixon, are both Republicans, and are one of the broad slates of the proposed law introduced this year aimed at limiting the rights of immigrants living in Tennessee.
This measure required all driver license applicants to take a written portion of the driver test in English and prohibited the use of a translated dictionary or interpreter for individuals undergoing the test.
They lost 5-3 in the House Transportation Subcommittee after Republican members raised concerns about the impact on the international industry they do business in Tennessee, including Nissan and Volkswagen.
Republicans on the panel also said they have heard concerns about the Tennessee Department of Economic Community Development bill.
“What this bill does is to deal with people with a lot of people in my district with a workplace visa already here, a green card that is legally here,” said Rep. Dan Howell, a Cleveland Republican, by explaining his “no” vote.
“I have a company that employs 1,000 people,” Howell said. “Volkswagen is near my district with 5,000 or 6,000 people, and these businesses send most of their executive staff here with their families. They may legally be here, some of them may not speak English.”
Tennessee law already prohibits immigrants from obtaining driver licenses without legal status, and prohibits limiting the impact of the proposed bill to those who are legally present in the United States.
Currently, the Tennessee Safety Department offers written exams in German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, in addition to English.
The loss of the bill in the House Subcommittee means it was effectively shelved that year.
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