State of Official English Spring 2026 – Progress on Multiple Fronts

State of Official English Spring 2026 – Progress on Multiple Fronts

Since the start of 2026, ProEnglish has had an active presence educating the American public and advocating for the passage of Official English policies. Below are some highlights that underscore the progress we’ve made and the work that still must be done so Official English continues to advance at all levels.

President Trump Reinforces Need for Dalilah’s Law at SOTU

In late February, President Trump put Official English front and center at the 2026 State of the Union address where he urged Congress to pass H.R. 5688, otherwise known as Dalilah’s Law. This critical piece of legislation would prohibit illegal aliens and non-citizens from obtaining Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) and enforce strict English proficiency requirements.

In March this bill passed the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and advanced to the House floor. As we wrote about in an op-ed published on our website, road safety is dependent on drivers being proficient in English. At ProEnglish, we’re using all resources at our disposal to advance this critical piece of legislation and so it’s codified into law.

There are several other bills in addition to Dalilah’s Law that are making their way through Congress and focus on English language proficiency for commercial drivers. You can find important updates and information about these bills in the Legislative Updates section of our website

Congressional Update: Official English Gets High-Profile Cosponsor

Since their introduction in the 119th Congress, ProEnglish has been supporting two critical bills, H.R. 1772 and S. 542, both of which would make English the official language of government operations.

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) became the 17th cosponsor of  H.R. 1772 this past February, showing this bill has support from one of the most influential members of Congress. Rep. Gill is a rising star, and his cosponsorship helps build momentum for this policy. We’ll be working closely with him and our other allies in Congress to recruit more cosponsors and pass this into law.

We’re calling on all of our supporters to do their part, and to raise awareness about the importance of both of these pieces of legislation. Please go to our action center and encourage your elected officials in Washington, D.C. to cosponsor Official English legislation.

Federal Officials Enforce Executive Order on Official English

In March 2025, President Trump issued an executive order mandating English as the official language of government operations. Since then, several cabinet heads and federal officials have done their part to enforce compliance with this important directive.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced in February that all commercial drivers licenses exams must be taken in English. This important move ensures that those moving large commercial vehicles are proficient in English, and eliminates the threat of accidents due to not understanding road signs and instructions.

National parks also made headlines after adding a notice stating English is the official language of the United States to versions of their websites offered in foreign languages. English versions of the websites are the definitive source of information, and this helps avoid ambiguities or confusion about park policies on the foreign language sites.

President Trump’s executive order is essential, and we’re pleased that federal officials are implementing it across the federal government.

Official English Legislation Gains Traction at State Level

In 2026 we’ve seen several significant developments at the state level for official English.

In January, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill which would have codified English as the state’s official language. While the bill ultimately failed in the Senate, it shows that the movement for Official English continues to grow in the Badger State. In April, an Official English bill was introduced in the Ohio House, and in May it was referred to committee. If enacted, Ohio would become the 33rd state to codify Official English into law.

Bills related to English proficiency for commercial drivers licenses have also made progress. In February, a new policy went into effect in Florida mandating that all drivers license knowledge and skills exams are offered exclusively in English. In March, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed SB 164 into law, which requires all CDL holders to be proficient in English. We support these policy changes and encourage other states to implement similar measures.

We’re continuing to monitor the situation in many other states all across the country and we look forward to working with state legislators to advance Official English policies.

Washington Times Op-Ed: Official English on Ballot in Midterm Elections

ProEnglish Executive Director Ellen Hamilton-Cotten recently had an op-ed published in the Washington Times that reinforced the importance of Official English as an issue in the November midterm elections.

The op-ed drove home that voters have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard and bring this issue to the forefront by encouraging their members of Congress to support Official English policies and legislation. You can read the full op-ed here.

Looking Ahead

In 2026, the movement for Official English continued to grow. As we’ve stated before, Official English policies are popular with the American people, and a Rasmussen poll we commissioned in March of 2025 shows that 73% of Americans support codifying English as the official language of government operations.

Stay tuned for updates on pending legislation, new developments, and ways you can join the fight. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X, and Truth Social, and please consider supporting our work.