Katherine Moretti

Chair and Members of the Committee, I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to HB 1252. While I strongly support highway safety and rigorous commercial driver licensing standards, this bill would unnecessarily restrict access to commercial driver’s licenses by prohibiting the use of interpreters during the CDL skills test administered by the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles. Commercial driving already requires applicants to demonstrate practical driving ability, knowledge of safety procedures, and compliance with federal standards. If a driver can safely operate a commercial vehicle, follow traffic laws, read required road signage, and meet all federal English proficiency requirements already in place, then banning interpreter assistance during the skills exam adds a barrier without clearly improving safety outcomes. HB 1252 would: - Reduce workforce participation at a time when the trucking and logistics industries face persistent driver shortages. - Disproportionately impact legal residents and new Americans who are working to contribute to our economy. - Disproportionately impact Deaf Americans who use ASL as their primary language, and would use an ASL interpreter on this portion of the test. Not speaking English does not mean that these citizens do not know English and would be limiting the jobs available to a portion of the population who already have a limited amount of jobs available to them due to their hearing loss. - Potentially discourage otherwise qualified, safe drivers from entering the profession. - Create economic ripple effects for small businesses that rely on commercial transportation. Federal regulations already require CDL holders to have sufficient English proficiency to read traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement, and complete reports. The state does not need to impose additional restrictions beyond those federal standards unless there is clear evidence that interpreter-supported testing compromises safety. To date, no such evidence has been demonstrated. Public safety and economic vitality are not mutually exclusive. We can maintain rigorous testing standards while still ensuring fair access to opportunity. Instead of prohibiting interpreter use outright, the legislature should focus on measurable safety outcomes and workforce development strategies that strengthen New Hampshire’s economy. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to vote Ought to Pass Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1252. Thank you for your consideration.