HB88 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phillip PettusRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Driver license; examinations administered exclusively in English

Summary

HB88 would require driver license exams to be administered in English by ALEA and create an option for certain high school driver education instructors to administer the exam as third-party testers.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires ALEA to administer all driver license exams exclusively in English. All written, oral, vision, and driving portions must be in English, and applicants may not use translation dictionaries, electronic devices, or interpreters during the exam. It creates an option for public or private high school driver education instructors, approved and trained as third-party testing agents, to administer the exam in lieu of ALEA for students enrolled or starting enrollment in driver education. If an applicant passes, they receive a certificate; if they fail, no certificate is issued; renewals would follow current rules unless ALEA determines otherwise, and the act would take effect October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Initial-driver-license applicants (and some renewal applicants) would face an English-only exam administered by ALEA, with a potential alternative path through certified high school driver education instructors acting as third-party testers.
• Public and private high school driver education instructors and the schools they work for, who may become approved third-party testing agents to administer the exam, subject to DOE/ALEA oversight.

Key Provisions

• All portions of the driver license examination (written, oral, vision, and driving) must be administered in English; translation aids and interpreters are not permitted.
• Allows certified high school driver education instructors at public schools (DOE-approved and ALEA-trained) and private school instructors (ALEA-certified) to administer the exam in lieu of ALEA; DOE is not responsible for private-school instructor approvals; effective October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic