Arizona lawmakers are advancing legislation that would significantly expand state authority over commercial driver enforcement, targeting the use of fraudulent commercial driver’s licenses and companies that employ undocumented drivers.
House Bill 2345, sponsored by Rep. David Livingston, would elevate the use of a fake CDL to a felony offense and authorize law enforcement to impound — and ultimately auction — commercial vehicles connected to violations.
Livingston told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the proposal is intentionally narrow, aimed at what he described as a small subset of drivers who should not be operating heavy trucks on Arizona roadways.
“This is a very, very small group of people that should not be driving 18-wheelers in Arizona,” Livingston said. “It’s undocumented people with illegal licenses. Everybody that’s a citizen — no effect. Everybody that has a legal CDL — no effect.”
Livingston framed the bill as a response to uneven enforcement across state lines, arguing that Arizona often bears the burden of drivers licensed elsewhere who may not meet federal qualification standards.
“There’s more problems with people getting licenses in other states and then driving through Arizona than Arizona companies doing this,” he said. “Those are the bad actors that I’m most concerned about.”
That concern reflects broader frustration among states over how English-language proficiency (ELP) requirements are enforced. Federal law requires commercial drivers to read and speak English, but enforcement has largely occurred during roadside inspections, with limited follow-up once drivers or carriers cross state lines.
Committee members raised those issues directly during the hearing. Rep. Teresa Martinez questioned whether Arizona could realistically enforce federal qualification standards when CDLs issued by other states are presumed valid.
“How do we distinguish between a legal license and a false license when we have states around this country giving licenses that are presumed to be legal?” Martinez asked.
Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association, told lawmakers that inconsistent enforcement — not a lack of regulations — is the root issue, particularly when it comes to English-language proficiency and non-domiciled CDLs.
“We nationalized the CDL program to make sure we had uniformity across the United States,” Bradley said. “We can’t have a patchwork of rules from state to state.”
Bradley said Arizona has taken steps to properly enforce its own licensing and ELP standards, while other states have fallen short.
“Each state is responsible for their own CDL program,” he said, pointing to shortcomings elsewhere. “California failed us all.”
Livingston said the bill reflects growing frustration with what states see as inconsistent federal oversight of driver qualifications, especially language standards.
“This is a national problem,” Livingston said during the Jan. 28 hearing. “But the federal government also needs to step up and do more. In the meantime, states can act first and faster.”
Similar legislation targeting undocumented truck drivers has been introduced in Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
HB 2345 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday after lawmakers adopted a two-page amendment clarifying the vehicle forfeiture process. The bill advanced on a 5–3 vote, with one member voting “present,” and now heads to the full Arizona House.
However, Bradley warned that the proposal could further fragment enforcement by pulling states into areas traditionally reserved for federal regulators, including language standards tied to interstate commerce.
“The law is clear: We do not have immigration authority,” Bradley said. “This bill requires immigration authority,” adding that it could put federal commercial vehicle enforcement funding at risk.
Several lawmakers acknowledged the tension between state frustration and federal preemption. Rep. Mariana Hernandez cited the Supremacy Clause and questioned whether Arizona could legally address English-language proficiency and CDL integrity without overstepping federal authority.
“As interstate commerce, we want uniformity,” Bradley said. “We can’t have our own program that steps outside the line, or we risk those federal dollars.”
Livingston acknowledged the bill may require further revisions but said the debate highlights growing impatience among states tasked with enforcing safety standards without consistent federal follow-through.
“I don’t look at this as an immigration bill. I look at this as a safety bill,” Livingston said. “If it’s not workable, it won’t get a third reading vote. But we need this conversation, and we need solutions.”
