Committee advances bill exempting nonoperating ID fees for people without a resident address
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Summary
Senate Bill 12‑09, sponsored by Sen. Shauna Bullock, would exempt people without a resident address or whose address is a shelter from nonoperating ID fees and extend the validity of new nonoperating IDs to eight years; the committee recommended the bill after testimony from providers who help people obtain vital documents.
Senate Bill 12‑09, which would exempt individuals who do not have a resident address or whose address is a shelter from nonoperating identification license fees and set nonoperating IDs issued after the general effective date to be valid for eight years in most cases, received a due‑pass recommendation from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Sponsor Sen. Shauna Bullock framed the bill as a practical step to help people experiencing homelessness obtain government‑issued identification that is often a prerequisite for housing, employment and services. Rick Mitchell, CEO of the Homeless ID Project, said his organization provided 15,000 documents last year (11,000 of them state IDs) and described how lack of an ID prevents access to jobs, shelter and benefits. "An ID is necessary, element for every 21st century life," he told the committee.
Charles Gonzales, executive chaplain for Chaplaincy for the Homeless, said a state ID is a "lifeline" that restores dignity and enables people to rebuild. Committee members asked about verifying residency and documentation; witnesses said they work case‑by‑case to obtain birth certificates and arrange addresses through shelters or case managers.
The committee voted to give SB 12‑09 a due‑pass recommendation (9 ayes, 0 no, 1 not voting). The measure would proceed to additional committee or chamber action where implementation details and eligibility verification procedures would be addressed.