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Bill would allow digital state IDs for alcohol purchases and service verification
Summary
Representative Braxton Mitchell introduced a brief bill to recognize state-issued digital identifications for age-verified purchases and alcohol service, extending the digital-ID provisions enacted last session.
Representative Braxton Mitchell explained House Bill 196 as a narrow update to Montana law that would allow government-issued digital identifications — for example the mobile image of a state-issued ID — to serve as an alternative to a physical card when age verification is required for alcohol sales and service.
Mitchell said the bill builds on last session’s House Bill 519, which established the legal framework for government-issued digital IDs. He told the committee the proposal is intended to modernize the sales-and-service rules so businesses can accept a certified digital ID the same way they accept a physical driver’s license or passport.
No proponents or opponents appeared at the hearing and DLI or other informational witnesses were not requested. Committee members asked a few technical questions about verification and fraud safeguards and Mitchell said the bill tracks the scope of the digital-ID rollout already adopted by the legislature.
Ending: The hearing was brief and technical; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.
