Sponsors
The bill raises safety and accountability for federally contracted ride services by imposing driver vetting and an ASL exemption, but it risks excluding non‑English speakers, increasing compliance costs, and narrowing vendor options—shifting benefits in rider safety toward potential economic and access burdens for drivers, firms, and agencies.
Federal employees and visitors will have rides provided by drivers aged 21+ who are vetted for safe driving, improving rider safety on federal contracts.
Taxpayers and federal agencies will benefit from stronger accountability because companies must certify driver qualifications and face debarment for fraud, reducing the risk of unqualified drivers on federal contracts.
Deaf or hearing‑impaired ASL users keep access to work because they are exempted from the English requirement, protecting employment opportunities for that disabled population.
Immigrant and limited‑English‑proficiency drivers may be excluded from federal contracts because of an English proficiency mandate, reducing job opportunities and disproportionately affecting immigrant and multi‑state license holders.
TNCs and shared‑mobility firms (especially small providers) will face higher compliance and certification costs and risk five‑year debarment for violations, which may raise prices and reduce vendor competition for agencies.
Limited‑English‑proficiency drivers not covered by the ASL exemption face potential discrimination and civil‑liberties concerns from the English requirement.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prevents executive agencies from contracting with TNCs/shared‑use mobility firms unless every contracted driver meets age, English, licensing, road‑test, and safety requirements; false certification triggers five‑year debarment.
Introduced November 6, 2025 by Thomas Hawley Tuberville · Last progress November 6, 2025
Prohibits executive agencies from awarding contracts for transportation network company (TNC) or shared‑use mobility services in the continental United States and Hawaii unless every driver working under the contract meets specific qualifications: at least 21 years old, can read and speak English well enough to converse with the public and law enforcement, understand highway signs, respond to inquiries, and make records entries; can safely operate the vehicle through experience or training; holds a single valid driver’s license from one State or jurisdiction; and has passed a road test. The bill exempts deaf or hearing‑impaired drivers who use American Sign Language from the English requirement, requires companies to certify compliance to the contracting agency, and imposes a five‑year debarment for false certifications.