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House approves study of electronic driver's licenses, leaving adoption voluntary
Summary
House Bill 227 passed to direct the Driver's License Division and Division of Technology Services to study the feasibility of an electronic driver's license option (phone-based) in Utah; the bill makes the option voluntary and requires a report for the Transportation Interim Committee.
The Utah House approved HB 227 directing state agencies to study whether to implement an electronic driver's license available on smartphones.
Representative Hall, sponsor, said the bill would have the Driver License Division and Division of Technology Services prepare a report and recommendations on feasibility, drawing on other states' experiences (Hall cited Iowa's pilot). He emphasized the program is voluntary: "If somebody wants to keep the plastic card, they can go ahead and keep the plastic card." The study will be reported to the Transportation Interim Committee and is intended to inform future policy.
Lawmakers asked whether other states have used the technology and whether it made sense to wait; Hall said about 10 states were exploring similar options and Iowa maintains an active pilot. The sponsor also said technological readiness and public-safety concerns motivated a study rather than mandating an implementation date.
The House voted and the clerk announced: "House bill 227 having received 70 yes votes, 0 no votes passes this body, and will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration."
