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Bill

S 5216

Waives the fee for a commercial driver's license for a member of the military or a veteran

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Waives the CDL application/issuance fee for military members and veterans, easing access to trucking jobs and reducing barriers to civilian employment.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 5216

Summary of Bill S 5216: Waives the fee for a commercial driver's license for a member of the military or a veteran

Overview

Bill S 5216 would waive the fee associated with obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for individuals who are members of the military or veterans. The bill was introduced on February 19, 2025 and is currently referred to the Transportation committee. The primary sponsor is Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. A related bill from a prior session is S 6060.

Key Provisions (as stated in the bill’s title)

  • The central provision is a waiver of the CDL application/issuance fee for eligible individuals.
  • The specific scope of the fee waiver (e.g., whether it covers issuance only, renewal, exams, endorsements, or ancillary fees) is not detailed in the information provided. The full text would clarify the exact components of the “fee” being waived.

Eligibility and Affected Parties

  • Eligible individuals: members of the military or veterans.
  • The bill would primarily impact those pursuing or renewing a CDL who have military service status or veteran status.

Administration and Implementation

  • The bill is currently under the jurisdiction of the Transportation committee, suggesting oversight by the state transportation agency responsible for driver’s licensing (typically a Department of Motor Vehicles or equivalent).
  • Implementation details—such as eligibility verification, whether the waiver applies uniformly across all CDL categories, and the process for claiming the waiver—would be defined in the bill’s text and any implementing regulations.

Fiscal and Policy Implications

  • Direct fiscal effect: the government would forego CDL-related fee revenue for eligible applicants. The magnitude would depend on the number of military members and veterans pursuing CDLs and the exact scope of the waivers (issuance vs. renewals and related fees).
  • Potential non-fiscal effects: the policy could reduce barriers to employment for military personnel and veterans who rely on CDLs for civilian careers; could affect administrative workloads related to verification and exemption processing.

Procedural History and Next Steps

  • Introduced: February 19, 2025.
  • Actions: Referred to Transportation (listed twice in the version content, both on February 19, 2025).
  • Next steps: The bill would move through committee hearings and potential amendments, followed by floor consideration and, if approved, passage by the full chamber and onward to the other legislative house as applicable.

Sponsorship and Related Measures

  • Primary sponsor: Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.
  • Related bill: S 6060 (prior-session), noted as related.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific state or add a brief comparison with similar existing programs (e.g., universal CDL fee waivers for service members) once you provide the jurisdiction or access to the full text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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