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Montana committee tables bill to create driver’s privilege card for lawfully present noncitizens after lengthy hearing
Summary
Supporters said a two‑year driver’s privilege card would improve safety and employment access for lawfully present residents; opponents warned it duplicates existing DMV processes and raised verification concerns. The Senate Judiciary committee adopted a sponsor edit but ultimately tabled HB 275 for further work.
Representative (and sponsor) Ed Staffman introduced House Bill 275 as a measure to create a limited driver’s privilege card for people who are lawfully present in the United States but ineligible for a full Montana driver’s license. Staffman said the card “authorizes a person to drive but has no other privileges” and stressed the proposal uses strict proof-of-presence documents and a maximum two-year validity so the card cannot be used for voting, international travel or other federal purposes.
The hearing drew broad public support from immigrant-rights groups, business associations and local service providers. Tom Waldorf of Bienvenidos of Gallatin Valley described a Bozeman family whose teenage son could not access driver-training and urged passage to improve safety and opportunity; Rebecca Myers of the Billings Area Chamber said the measure would help employers hire and noted the DMV told the committee the bill would not be expensive to implement.
Supporters frequently framed the bill as public-safety legislation. Mary Poole of a refugee‑support group testified that licensing and insurance for newcomers reduces uninsured driving and helps everyone on the road; several county officials and employers said improved access to lawful driving would lower absenteeism and help critical industries recruit workers.
Opponents pushed back on technical points and implementation. Mary Beveridge and other critics said current law and the SAVE verification process already permit many lawfully present noncitizens to get standard licenses, and they questioned the proposed two‑year expiration language and some documentary standards. DMV Administrator Lori Bakri told senators the department could implement the card but noted some categories (refugees and asylum seekers) may need special processing and that some documents (I‑9) are not used by DMV.
In executive action, the committee adopted a sponsor amendment clarifying that existing licensing requirements (testing, fees and driver‑education standards) apply to cardholders. After debate and a separate conceptual amendment attempt, a substitute motion to table HB 275 passed; the bill remains on committee file for further work.
What’s next: HB 275 was tabled in Senate Judiciary; proponents indicated they will pursue further drafting and potential floor amendments before seeking reconsideration or a future hearing.
