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Committee accepts substitute to clarify scope of digital driver’s license bill
Summary
The House Committee on Motor Vehicles accepted a substitute to House Bill 296 clarifying which credentials are excluded from a digital driver’s license pilot; members said some agencies lack the technology now and can be added later.
The House Committee on Motor Vehicles accepted a substitute to House Bill 296 that narrows the initial scope of a proposed digital driver’s license program, committee Chair Powell said.
Committee members said the substitute clarifies that certain credentials — for example some fishing and hunting licenses and other credentials in areas without technical readiness — are not included at this time, and can be added later when agencies have the necessary technology.
Members discussed the bill’s language around a continued “physical format” for credentials. One lawmaker asked whether the committee’s intent is eventually to eliminate physical credentials entirely. A committee member answered that the technology is the goal but the state is not ready now and the physical format remains for now, particularly for law enforcement use.
Vice Chair Gains described the substitute (LC394667S) as a narrow set of edits to ensure agencies that lack technical capacity are not included. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote; committee leaders confirmed the substitute would be distributed to members.
Committee members indicated they expect to return later to remove the physical-format requirement once technical and enforcement considerations are resolved.
