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Senate Votes to Remove Social Security Number from Driver’s License Card Unless Requested
Summary
The Senate approved a substitute to SB 8 to stop displaying Social Security numbers on driver license cards except at the licensee’s request, while retaining SSNs in agency records; senators asked for follow-up on implementation and possible fiscal impacts before final action.
Senators considered and approved a substitute to SB 8 on Jan. 21 that would remove Social Security numbers (SSNs) from the printed driver’s license card unless the licensee requested the number be displayed.
Sponsor Senator Leray McAllister said the substitute was designed to remove SSNs from the visible license while maintaining the number in the division’s computerized records so programs that rely on the data could continue to function. He cited national concerns about the theft and misuse of Social Security numbers.
Questions from the floor focused on whether the division already required SSNs on applications, on when SSNs first began appearing on licenses, and on the fiscal ramifications — including the Department of Finance’s reported use of SSNs in a collections ('Gotcha') program that could produce revenue. One senator asked the sponsor to hold the bill on the third‑reading calendar until the implementation questions were resolved; the sponsor agreed to look into it but cautioned against adding a fiscal note that would prevent passage.
The clerk reported a roll call of 24 ayes, no nays, 5 absent; SB 8 was passed to the third‑reading calendar during this session.
