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House approves opt-out amendment for proposed smart-card driver's license; bill circled for further work
Summary
Lawmakers debated HB 244, which would permit a smart-card driver's license format; an amendment was adopted to allow licensees to opt out of the smart-card format (35-32 on a division), and the House later "circled" the bill to permit additional work on privacy, cost and implementation questions.
The sponsor explained HB 244 would authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue driver's licenses in a smart-card format that could include a digitized photo, barcode and, at the licensee's option, additional electronic media. Proponents said smart cards could improve identification security and offer new functionality; opponents raised privacy and cost concerns and warned of perceptions of "Big Brother" intrusion.
Representative Dan Harper (and other proponents) offered an amendment to insert language allowing a licensee to decline the smart-card certificate format; floor proceedings included questions about duplicative processes, fiscal cost and implementation. The House adopted the opt-out amendment by roll-call division (35 yes, 32 no). Following additional discussion, members moved to "circle" HB 244 so sponsors and interested members could refine the bill; the motion to circle carried and the bill was held for further work.
The transcript shows both the amendment vote (35-32) and the later procedural action to circle the bill; no final passage of the underlying bill is recorded in the provided segment.
