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Senator Manzella pushes driver’s-license ‘citizenship marker’; tribes and DMV flag costs and logistics

Senate Finance and Claims · February 11, 2025
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Summary

Sen. Theresa Manzella told the Finance and Claims Committee SB 91 would require a citizenship marker on Montana driver’s licenses and IDs, pointing to the new CARS system and the federal SAVE verification tool; a tribal representative and others opposed, citing at least $176,941 in design and programming costs and existing proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Senator Theresa Manzella told the Senate Finance and Claims Committee she is sponsoring Senate Bill 91 to require a citizenship marker on Montana driver licenses and identification cards, saying recent technology makes the change practical. “We have the new CARS system that makes this possible,” Manzella said, and she cited the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program as an enabling tool.

The bill drew a mix of public comment and technical testimony. Proponents included a private commenter who spoke in favor. Department of Motor Vehicles staff answered detailed…

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