State Government and Policy

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has implemented a new policy, effective Feb. 6, 2026, making English the only language permitted for all driver’s license knowledge and skills exams in the state. The agency said it has updated its testing system statewide, removed all non‑English written exams, and will no longer allow translation services during testing, ending prior offerings in multiple languages for non‑commercial licenses. Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly praised the change, calling it a 'good reform' and arguing that drivers must be able to read English road signs, while Lt. Gov. Jay Collins labeled it a 'commonsense step' to improve highway safety. The move affects both standard and commercial applicants and is likely to hit non‑English‑speaking residents hardest, folding into broader state and national fights over English‑only policies, immigration, and who gets to drive legally on U.S. roads. Immigrant‑rights advocates and safety experts have not yet weighed in in this piece, but similar policies elsewhere have historically drawn criticism for potentially pushing unlicensed, uninsured driving into the shadows rather than improving safety.