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Committee advances bill to mark noncitizen driver’s licenses, add provisional-vote process
Summary
The Committee on Elections voted to advance House Bill 24-48, which would require driver’s licenses issued to noncitizens to indicate that status and provide a provisional-ballot procedure for anyone presenting such a license who claims to be a U.S. citizen. Lawmakers debated amendments narrowing visual ID changes and clarified training and timing concerns.
The Committee on Elections on voice vote advanced House Bill 24-48 after adopting amendments that narrow how driver’s licenses for noncitizens would be marked and add a provisional-ballot process.
Mister Reviser told the committee the bill would “require the driver’s license [on] the face of the driver’s license to show whether the person is a citizen or a noncitizen.” The chair opened debate with an amendment that initially would have required noncitizen licenses to be vertical as an additional visual cue and would require poll workers to give a provisional ballot to any person who presents a noncitizen license at a polling place.
Vice Chairman argued the vertical-orientation change might be “overkill” given that electronic poll books and barcodes are the primary tools used by clerks. The committee voted first to strike the orientation/format language from the amendment and later adopted clarifying language that a provisional ballot is given only if the person “claims to be a citizen” or otherwise requests to proceed. The chair said the intent is that the provisional ballot can be “cured” later if the voter proves eligibility.
Representative Simmons raised a legal concern, asking whether providing a provisional ballot to someone identified as a noncitizen could be understood to mean voting as a noncitizen is not a crime. The chair responded that a provisional ballot that is not counted is distinct from committing an offense and that the provision is meant to protect people who believe they are eligible.
Committee members also asked about implementation and timing: Representative Mosley asked how existing licenses would be handled when they do not expire until years later; the chair explained that only new or renewed licenses would carry the citizenship marking. On training, the chair said county clerks and election officers — not the state — train poll workers locally, and the Secretary of State’s office would be responsible for notifying counties of the change in law.
Vice Chairman renewed the motion to pass the bill as amended, and the committee approved it by voice vote. Representatives Moseley, Meyer, Simmons and the ranking minority member requested their ‘no’ votes be recorded.
The committee’s action moves HB24-48 to the next stage of consideration by the full legislature; the change would take effect for licenses issued or renewed after the bill’s effective date.
