Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House to expand driver license materials

A new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark in the North Carolina House seeks to make driver license handbooks and exams accessible to non-English speakers, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 371 on March 11 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘DMV Materials in Additional Languages.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill mandates that the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles provide the driver license handbook and written exam in Khmer and any language that is the primary language of at least 2% of the state’s population. This initiative aims to make driver licensure materials more accessible to non-English speakers. The measure will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Pricey Harrison proposed the most bills (19) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Clark graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a BA and again in 2012 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Clark, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 57th House district, replacing previous state representative Ashton Clemmons.