House passes bill creating driving-privilege card, bars ITIN-based state IDs for government uses

The Utah House of Representatives voted to pass S.B. 227, the Public Safety Driving Privilege and Identification Card Amendments, after lengthy floor debate and multiple amendments.

Sponsor Representative Lockhart framed the measure as a public-safety response to an audit the Legislature requested, saying the review showed large numbers of driver’s licenses and ID cards had been issued under IRS individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs). "As many as 58,000 driver licenses have been issued to undocumented aliens in this state," Lockhart said, adding that personal ID cards under ITINs numbered roughly 37,000. He said the bill would stop issuing driver's licenses and ITIN-based ID cards, create a driving-privilege card for people without Social Security numbers and bar governmental entities from accepting that card as proof of personal identification.

Lawmakers under amendment required the Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt administrative rules defining residency. Representative Yore’s amendment to narrow residency requirements and make residency definitions administratively enforceable was approved after debate. Representative Yore described the amendment as narrowing the bill and giving the department a reasonable method to declare residency.

Several substitute and technical amendments were offered on the floor. Representative Romero proposed an amendment intended to ensure the bill did not expand law-enforcement authority to act as immigration agents; that substitute amendment was debated but ultimately failed in a division vote. Representative Goodfellow sought to add a new identification card option issued by the drivers division; that amendment failed on a recorded vote (22 yes, 48 no).

Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about the bill’s practical impacts. Representative Clark, citing Patriot Act requirements for financial institutions, asked whether a new driving-privilege card would meet federal bank identification rules. "This particular bill as it stands right now will change dramatically how we do things," Clark said, urging further work during the interim. Representative Wallace and others argued the measure was needed to restore the credibility of Utah driver credentials after reports other states were refusing Utah licenses.

Lockhart and supporters emphasized the measure is limited to a state-level response to perceived misuse of ITIN-based credentials and that immigration status remains a federal matter. "We can't do that [immigration reform] — it's a federal issue," Lockhart said in summation. "All we can do is address the state issues."

The House gave final passage to S.B. 227 as amended, 53 yes to 18 no. The bill was signed by the presiding officer and referred to the Senate for further action.

What comes next: the bill will proceed to the Senate for consideration; sponsors and several members signaled an intent to continue refining implementation details during the interim, particularly on residency rules and how the new card would work with financial- and federal-identification requirements.