The Overview

If you hold or plan to get a commercial driver license in Arizona, a new state law could change who helps you handle it. Under House amendments to S.B. 1456, authorized third-party driver license providers in Arizona could perform administrative or testing functions, or both, for issuing and renewing commercial driver licenses, as the director authorizes and federal law permits. ​

Arizona's authorized third party driver license providers bill, SB 1456, became law when Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed it June 22. The bill started as a measure about ADOT road designation, but the House replaced its entire contents with a strike-everything amendment on March 25, 2026, shifting the law's focus entirely to third-party driver license provider rules.

What the Law Does

The law amends Arizona's statute governing authorized third-party driver license providers, which are permitted to perform driver license functions. A provider authorized under the main subsection may now also perform administrative functions, testing functions, or both, for issuing and renewing commercial driver licenses. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) director must authorize which of those commercial driver license functions each provider may perform, and any work must comply with federal law.

An applicant must submit a bond of at least $300,000 for an initial application, plus $100,000 for each additional location offering driver license functions, with a total cap of $1,000,000. Applicants must also show they have been an authorized third party for at least the three immediately preceding years, averaged at least 1,000 retention transactions per month in the previous calendar year, and are in good standing with the department. Each location must have at least one certified processor on hand during business hours who is qualified in fraudulent document recognition, ignition interlock requirements, and driver license reinstatements.

Legislative Status

Sen. Dave Farnsworth (R-AZ-10) sponsored the bill. The Senate passed the original version 18–10 on Feb. 26. The House passed the final engrossed version 39–19 on June 11.

The Senate then passed that final version 20–9 on June 12, the day the bill was transmitted to the governor. From first Senate reading to the governor's signature, the bill took around 144 days to become law.

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