House approves bill to mark citizenship on state IDs after heated debate over verification and equity

The South Dakota House voted to pass Senate Bill 75, a measure that would require an indication of U.S. citizenship on motor vehicle operator licenses, permits and non‑driver identification cards.

Proponents said the marking will help election officials distinguish eligible voters from noncitizens; opponents warned it may create administrative burdens, errors and opportunities for discrimination.

Senate Bill 75 would add a small marking to licenses and ID cards indicating whether the holder is a U.S. citizen, according to lawmakers speaking on the House floor. Representative Stacy Fitzgerald, speaking in support, called the measure “an election integrity bill” and said it would make it easier on election day for officials to determine who may legally vote.

“I would just ask you to vote for this, Senate Bill 75. I think it is a good bill. We want to make sure that we do have legal elections and elections that we can have faith in,” Fitzgerald said.

Representative Jennie Whitman led opposition remarks, saying the policy would add red tape and cost, and that the House had seen no credible evidence of noncitizen voting in South Dakota. “This bill just creates more barriers to obtain identification,” Whitman said, adding that errors in verification could hinder people’s ability to drive, work or access services and could lead to profiling.

Representatives asked several procedural and implementation questions on the floor: what documents would be accepted as proof of citizenship, whether the marking would identify temporary visa holders, and who at the Department of Motor Vehicles would be responsible for verification. Fitzgerald answered that details such as acceptable documents (for example, passports or certified birth certificates) were still being worked out and that DMV staff would examine submitted documents and could consult supervisors when necessary.

Other members described the proposal as redundant — noting separate voter registration requirements — while supporters said it provides an additional cross‑check for election officials. Representative Todd Shorma said the marking is “redundant” but saw no problem with adding it to the license; Representative Mark Hughes said it would not be burdensome and described South Dakota as an “open accepting” state.

The House recorded 66 ayes and 4 nays on final passage; the bill was declared passed by the chamber.

Questions about how the marking would intersect with federal REAL ID rules, the exact text of the marking, how DMV staff would be trained, how temporary noncitizen residents would be handled, and what documents would be accepted were raised repeatedly on the floor. The sponsor acknowledged some of those details remain to be specified and said they would be worked out in implementing administrative processes.

The House vote sends the bill forward for the remaining steps in the legislative process.