Illinois bill allowing immigrants to become driving instructors awaits final action

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois started to provide standard driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants last July. Gov. JB Pritzker could soon decide whether or not some immigrants can become driving instructors.

In 2013, Illinois led the nation as one of the first states to issue temporary visitor driver's licenses to help drivers who passed road tests regardless of immigration status. The 2024 law allowed undocumented immigrants to receive standard IDs without the large purple mark stating not valid for identification.

House Bill 3125 could allow anyone with a TVDL for at least two years to teach driving courses. Sponsors said this change will help expand the people eligible to become driving instructors without reducing qualifications for the job.

"Some of these qualifications include good moral character, a criminal background check, passing an exam from the Secretary of State's office on traffic laws and safe driving practices while being able to physically operate a motor vehicle safely and graduated from an accredited high school," said Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).

Potential driving instructors must also be authorized to work in the United States.

Still, House and Senate Republicans oppose the idea. Some said they know there is a growing demand for driving instructors, but this is not the right solution.

"Are the qualifications we're putting in place the right qualifications for driving instructors?" asked Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-Woodstock). "It's not TVDL itself necessarily, but the fact that you only needed to have it in any of the two years in the past."

House Bill 3125 passed out of the Senate on a 37-20 vote. The measure received a 75-38 vote in the House.

The proposal arrived on Pritzker's desk on June 20. Pritzker has to decide whether he will sign or veto the plan by Aug. 19.