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Sponsors urge pre-expiration notices for driver's licenses in first hearing on House Bill 258
Summary
Sponsors introduced House Bill 258 to require the registrar to send driver-license renewal notices at least 14 days before expiration rather than after; testimony included cost estimates, renewal volumes and discussion of email reminders and small fees to offset printing/postage.
Sponsors of House Bill 258 told the Transportation Committee on June 10 that the bill would require the registrar of motor vehicles to send renewal notices no less than 14 days before a driver's license expiration date rather than after it lapses.
Sponsors argued the change would reduce unintended lapses, avoid fines or insurance issues, improve public-safety compliance and ease administrative burdens on the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Representative Matthews cited Ohio totals (about 8,700,000 driver's licenses on file and roughly 2,000,000 renewals processed annually) and estimated mailing every license could cost roughly $1 million per year, but said targeting and electronic reminders could lower that cost. Sponsors said an email reminder option would be considered as a cost-saving supplement and the bill's drafters are open to examining small fees dedicated to offsetting administrative costs.
Committee members asked about email opt-in, potential small supplemental fees to cover costs, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles' current practices and whether multi-year renewals (including eight-year options) affect the policy. Sponsors noted an estimated 3.7% lapse rate among those due to renew and said more detailed fiscal analysis would be provided by staff (LSC) in later hearings. The bill was held after its first hearing for further consideration.
