Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) introduced the Strengthening Transportation Oversight and Preventing (STOP) Improper Licensing Act to clear America’s highways of hazardous drivers. This bill requires federal safety regulators to audit states issuing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and unqualified drivers. A dangerous driver anywhere is a threat to families everywhere. 

Non-domiciled CDLs historically have been issued by states to individuals who are not permanent residents but maintain legal authorization to work in the country. Unfortunately, before the Trump Administration, several states failed to follow proper protocol, wrongfully issuing thousands of non-domiciled CDLs to ineligible foreign drivers lacking proper qualifications or training.  California admitted to issuing roughly 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs illegally, while New York maintained a 53% error rate among sampled records. In Illinois, one in five failed to meet federal standards. These ineligible drivers caused 17 fatal crashes in 2025 alone, killing 30 people.

"Wyoming truckers earn every credential they carry. They train, test, and follow the law," said Rep. Hageman. "Other states hand out CDLs to illegal aliens, and families pay for that failure with their lives. My bill requires regulators to review the books and clean up America’s highways after years of unchecked immigration flooded the nation with thousands of unqualified drivers.” 

“A CDL represents a promise that a professional truck driver is fully vetted, trained, and in full compliance with federal standards,” said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen.  “Rep. Hageman has been a relentless champion for restoring integrity to the CDL system, which gives everyone on the road confidence that only qualified drivers are operating behind the wheel.  By requiring FMCSA to audit issuance procedures for non-domicile CDLs and identify areas where additional accountability is needed, her bill would build on this effort.  ATA applauds Rep. Hageman's leadership and will continue to support her ongoing work to strengthen oversight, close loopholes, and ensure safety throughout the trucking industry."

“Rep. Hageman has shown a strong commitment to improving safety in trucking few other lawmakers can match. She has consistently championed sensible solutions to some of the biggest problems facing our industry. The STOP Improper Licensing Act, which will help identify and address compliance lapses in the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs, is the latest example of her extraordinary commitment to improving highway safety,” stated Todd Spencer, President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

“Wyoming’s highway safety depends not only on the integrity of our own CDL program, but also on every state whose drivers travel I-80 and operate on our roads. Congresswoman Hageman’s STOP Improper Licensing Act will help ensure every non-domiciled CDL is lawfully and properly issued while strengthening the oversight, transparency, and accountability essential to maintaining the integrity of commercial driver licensing across the country. The Wyoming Trucking Association is proud to support this commonsense legislation,” stated Kevin Hawley, President and CEO, Wyoming Trucking Association.

“Effective enforcement begins with accurate data. By requiring audits of non-domiciled commercial driver's license issuance procedures, the STOP Improper Licensing Act will help federal and state officials identify gaps in compliance, improve oversight, and ensure licensing standards are applied consistently. As the trucking industry continues to grow and evolve, access to reliable information is critical to maintaining a safe, lawful, and accountable commercial transportation system. We commend Congresswoman Harriet Hageman and her staff for their hard work and leadership in addressing these important enforcement issues and for advancing policies that strengthen transparency, accountability, and public safety throughout the commercial trucking industry,” stated TCA’s Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs, David Heller.

Background: 

The Trump administration tightened non-domiciled CDL eligibility rules in a regulation that took effect in March 2026. Now that the regulatory landscape has shifted with these new eligibility restrictions, this bill is necessary to ensure continued oversight and compliance. 

The STOP Improper Licensing Act:

• Requires FMCSA to review a random sample of non-domiciled CDLs in every state.
• Targets non-domiciled CDLs issued without checking legal status and those that stayed active after that status expired.
• Requires the findings to be published and reported to Congress.
• Gives failing states 60 days to fix the problem, with repeat audits for the worst offenders.
• Cuts off all FMCSA funding to any state that refuses to comply.
   

The STOP Improper Licensing Act is the 5^th bill led by Rep. Hageman to clean up our roads and stand up for America’s truckers:

• Connor’s Law codifies English language proficiency for CDL holders.
• The Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act requires that all testing to obtain a CDL be administered in English.

• The SAFE Act enhances detection capabilities to combat chameleon carriers. 
• The ROUTE Act expands opportunities for qualified 18–20-year-old CDL holders to operate commercial vehicles on limited interstate routes.